Call to persevere

Hope for a New Year

It seems to me that the amount of people who have new year's resolutions or clear plans and goals is getting smaller and smaller. Maybe because it is getting harder and harder to stay focused, since we are being tempted by too many things to do, people to meet, books to read and places to visit.

The other day I read a call to persevere in the book of Hebrews and I found it very inspiring. I would like to share it with you for 2011. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews makes his point of confidence quite clear: through His body Jesus opened a new and living way for us to enter the presence of God. Then he goes on and writes his call to persevere, which is still as powerful today as it was 2000 years ago:

• Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in ful assurance of faith
• Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess
• Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds
• Let us not give up meeting together... but let us encourage one another

You can re-read this in the 10th chapter, starting at verse 19. I don't know whether you are willing to give heed to this call to persevere or whether you need it, but I know I do!

It could very well be that you are working on a project and have been discouraged lately. Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed by the world's events, maybe your are disappointed in the church or in people that were supposed to help you or maybe you're downright tired and have lost your joy. It doesn't really matter where you are at the beginning of this new year, the good news is: we have a great priest over the house of God (verse 21). That great priest is Jesus Christ and the house of God is us! Hebrews 3:6 says, We are his house, if we hold to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

Having Jesus Christ live with you will make a new year a new life!