«Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus» (Hebrews 3: l).
IN HEBREWS 3, Jesus Christ is compared to Moses, the great leader of lsrael, and is considered even greater than him. Paul said that both Jesus and Moses were faithful to God. However, there is a contrast: Moses was a faithful servant in the house of God, while Jesus is the faithful Son over the house of God. Just as the son is greater than the servant, Jesus was greater than Moses (v. 5.6).
In addition, the apostle admonished against unbelief, remembering how Israel had doubted in the wilderness, had turned against God, and an entire generation had died in the desert without entering the Promised Land (v. 7—11).
Because of this story of unfaithfulness, he called for faithfulness: we must not be rebellious, irritating God with our unfounded unbelief. As we hear the Word of God, we must pay attention, encourage one another daily to turn away from doubt, and to strengthen our faith. God calls us to develop a life of faith and faithfulness in fulfilling the mission (v. 12—15).
Alberto and Ovidio are members of the Curuguaty Church in Paraguay. They have been a missionary team for some years, using their gifts, talents, and resources to serve God. After praying and asking for divine guidance, they went to an area called Maracana about forty miles from where they live (thirty seven of which are sandy, with red-colored dirt). In 2018 and 2019, Alberto and Ovidio traveled eighty miles round trip by motorbike every weekend to take the Adventist message. Many times, they fell because of the rain and the slippery road. Other times, they had to push the bike for miles until they found help. Nothing discouraged them from following the mission entrusted to them.
In 2019, six people gave their lives to Jesus through baptism by God’s grace. Today, the home of one of those who were baptized has been transformed into a center for evangelism and they have already bought land there to build a church.
Alberto and Ovidio are faithful men of faith. They always go forward without seeing obstacles but opportunities. Loyalty is not requested, not bought, not rented; nor does it give expecting to receive, nor does it pause before giving. That is what these faithful men of faith are like. They are men of God who well know that «unbelief does not take a step without prior explanations, but faith does not question or calculate; it simply trusts» (G. Müller).
Let us go forward faithfully and with faith.
