³² Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. ³⁴ You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

³⁵ So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ³⁶ Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

³⁷ “For in just a little while,
    the Coming One will come and not delay.
³⁸ And my righteous ones will live by faith.
    But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

³⁹ But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

Hebrews 10:32-39

Dear God, just before I sat down to pray, my wife let me know about someone in our small town who died in a car accident yesterday. I had met him once or twice, but I didn’t really know him. But I knew of him. He was an artist of significant renown in the art world. A sculptor. I also happen to know he was a man of faith and devotion to you. I have to admit, my first thought was not of sorrow for him. He had lived an effectively life that I think pointed others towards you. But for his family. My heart breaks for his family. For his wife. I cannot imagine the pain and shock she is in right now. What must the world look like to her? What do you look like to her? I don’t know if they have any children, but the odds are that they do. For their children. For their friends. Father, have mercy. Jesus, have mercy, Holy Spirit, have mercy.

Thinking about these verses today and our hope for the future, I guess I want to start with the idea that I’ve never been able to really “get into” Hebrews. It’s always had nice verses, but I’ve known we don’t know who the author is, definitively, and I think that has kind of lessened my interest in it. But after researching Apollos a little bit and seeing that some theorize he is the author, that has made it a little more personal. Another way to put it is that it has given the book a “voice.” If I can think that it’s him then I can give a little more credence to the admonition of someone who was thought so highly of by Paul, Luke, and others.

With that said, the hope we have is what I’m clinging to with the idea that this good man died suddenly yesterday. But I also have hope here on earth. I have hope that you are working all things for the good. Right now, I have a few challenges I’m facing and that I’m trying to help others face. Show me how to help them, please. Show me the path. Show me the way for them and for my work. Show me how to glorify you and point everyone involved to you. Help me to help them find the narrow path. Help me to find and stay on the narrow path. Help me to worship you well. I pray for the healing and wellbeing of those who are currently on my heart. Show them your mercy. Holy Spirit, heal. Make our paths straight, Father.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spririt,

Amen