Day 98 "Never Will I Leave You" (Hebrews: Chapter 13)

Never is a long time. It is without end. It means no past or future, on no occasion will it take place, not ever, not under any condition. Shakespeare used the expres-sion "forever and a day" in the Taming of the Shrew to show emphasis. What comes to mind when you read, "He is so slow, it will take him forever and a day," or "I will love you forever and a day." If forever isn't long enough, add an extra day for emphasis! The point is, forever on its own means never ending. Thus, when God says that he will never leave nor forsake us, what does that do for your peace of mind? For your confidence? For those times you feel that you are going through life alone? When you feel like everything is going wrong and your life is full of despair?

And the other part is knowing that God will never forsake us. This concept of forsake is to renounce, give up on or abandon. God will never do that in our lives. Though it may appear to us, and perhaps rightly so, that everyone around us has forsaken us, God will never do so. He remains "for us" not "against us." He forever will remain or stronghold and fortress. When no one else is around, God remains and whispers to your spiritual ear, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Chapter 13 of Hebrews brings the book to a close, but not before giving us a few more reminders to help us along in our spiritual journey. It is a chapter that ends by bringing us back to the understanding that this new covenant establish by Christ is not to be lived by our effort and trying to live up to a set of moral standard and regulations. Instead, it is to be lived by God's grace instilled in our lives by faith: "Grace be with you all."

Hebrews: Chapter 13

"Keep on loving each other as brothers." Hebrews 13:1

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

Hebrews 13:5

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6

"Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

"It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace," Hebrews 13:9

"And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood."

Hebrews 13:12

"For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to

come." Hebrews 13:14

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise."

Hebrews 13:15

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God

is pleased." Hebrews 13:16

"May the God of peace...equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he

work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21

Key verses for me:

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

"Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

"And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood."

Hebrews 13:12

"For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to

come." Hebrews 13:14

These four verses succinctly put our faith in just a few words. Jesus made us holy, without blemish or imperfection, by dying on the cross and shedding his blood for us. This same Jesus will be in existence forever. The reality of God and his plans for our lives will not come to an end, unlike our life here on earth. We, therefore, have great hope and eagerly await this new city, this new kingdom of God's to come. And along life's journey, while we wait for the best yet to come, we can be comforted with the knowledge and understanding that God will never leave us nor forsake us. Never! We can't screw this up! His love is greater that are capacity to mess things up.

"The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more." Romans 5:20

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We have reached the end of Hebrews. I hope it has been enlightening for you. Jesus, our high priest, made a way for you and I to be in a personal, intimate relationship with God, the creator of us and our universe. If you have never trusted Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior, there is no better time to begin than right now. Simply ask him to forgive you your sins as your Savior and invite him to come into your life as Lord, that you are willing to exchange your life for his life in you.

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God

raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Let us spur one another to love and good deeds, for in doing so, we bring delight to the heavenly Father. I look forward to meeting with you, again, tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)