«So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere». Hebrews 10:35, 36, NM
LET’S GO BACK to 1975. We are at the Araneta Coliseum, in Manila, Philippines, along with 28,000 spectators who have come to see the third and final fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The whole world has stopped to witness the much-anticipated duel. Finally, the bell rings and the match begins.
After thirteen rounds of brutal fighting, on the verge of physical fatigue, almost dragging themselves on the ring, both boxers have reached the fourteenth round. During the minute of rest between the fourteenth and fifteenth round, Ali asked that his gloves be cut off; he didn’t want to continue boxing. His hands burned, his internal organs were crushed, and he could not even stand upright. His trainer tried to encourage him and asked him to wait a little longer. Just then, when Ali had decided to give up, Frazier’s trainer threw in the towel, and thus concluded the «fight of the century.»
The book of Hebrews exhorts believers who have «endured a great struggle with sufferings,» saying, «So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised» (Hebrews 10:32, 35, 36, NIV). If you are struggling right now, please don’t give up. Keep going.
In fact, what you need is to «persevere» (hypomoné in Greek); in other words, to keep enduring, to remain standing. And that indispensable perseverance, the power to resist hardships and firmly endure blows, does not come from you. Look at what the psalmist says: «Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope (hypomoné) comes from Him» (Psalm 62:5). Your hope, the perseverance needed so as to not take a step back, comes from your heavenly Father. And very soon, all those who have endured the enemy’s hard blows having put their hope in God, will be «richly rewarded.»
This year has entered its final round. You have lived through a lot of disappointments. The enemy has attacked you mightily, his infernal blows have crushed your soul, and you think that you can no longer remain standing, that your life is crumbling; and you have decided to give up. Please, endure a few more seconds.
The enemy will not be able to defeat you; your victory is assured.
www.meditacionesdiarias.com
http://www.faceboock.com/meditacionesdiariass
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meditacionesdiarias.mobile
Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Avineyda Hernández
