March 04, 2022 – Friday
Hebrews 10:32 NIV
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.
Hebrews 10:32 CJB
32 But remember the earlier days, when, after you had received the light, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.
Comment.
Many versions do not read after you had received the light, but instead read after you were enlightened. In both cases they are speaking about the light of the good news, the gospel, of Jesus Christ. If you receive that light, then your are enlightened. If you are enlightened, then you have received His light.
Paul* writes this verse after verses 19-25, where he assures the followers of Jesus, they should have complete confidence in their salvation through His sacrifice on the cross and to continue encouraging one another. Then directly leading to our verse of the day verses 26-31, a dire warning not to continue in a life of sin as (v31), It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Still, what is the suffering in great conflict or struggle Paul writes of here? Verses 33-35 tell the story, 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. We may think this was only for the Jewish converts and only for the time of this writing, but it continues to this day. It begins in ‘small’ ways and grows and grows. Here is an example of what happened to a high school student for his faith and carrying a bible with him. Here is a college student suspended for challenging professor’s claim Jesus crucifixion was a hoax. And of course we know what goes on in China against any Christianity other that state sponsored Christianity. Our day is coming.
Then there is the promise of the next four verses where Paul quotes from Habakkuk 2:3-4 to encourage trust in Almighty God speaking of the end times, , 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. There are those who will not trust God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit and do not have the faith to be saved.
We have received the light and either have had struggles and suffered or they are yet to come. If you have had them, remember the light you have received. If they are yet to come, remember those who have suffered and stayed the course, not shrinking back; do the same, stay the course in your faith and be saved.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for the reminder that struggles, conflicts, and suffered are still in our path as Christians. But the reward, remaining faithful to the source of the light is overwhelmingly greater having received the gift of light. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek
Paul* – Paul is generally accepted as the author of Hebrews and I accept his as the author as well after considering all the arguments pro and con.