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HELEN SANDERS
3-11-2026
FAITH AND PATIENCE
In Hebrews chapter ten Paul was writing about his imprisonment and how he had been a gazing stock with reproaches and afflictions caused by some of the companions the Hebrews had associated with. In verse 34 he wrote, “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring [permanent] substance.”
They had lost their property because they made a stand with Paul. They knew there was a price to pay to follow Jesus. In verse 35 Paul continued, “Cast not away therefore your confidence [boldness], which hath great recompence [promise] of reward.”
He was telling them to not stop pursuing the Christian way, but to be bold in their witness because they would be rewarded. Then in verse 36 Paul teaches them how that promise will come. He said, “For ye have need of patience, [persistence] that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
The promises of God do not come automatically. We walk by faith, trusting that God will bring them to pass. Without faith it is impossible to please God [Hebrews 11:6] but it also takes patience to wait for the promise to come to pass. Faith and patience work together. You may have great faith but little patience. You might also be a very patient person but are weak in faith. The two working together bring the promises of God, but it will also be in His timing. Never give up while you wait for the promise to manifest. Keep your faith kindled by staying in the Word of God, and then resolve yourself to be patient until the promise comes.
Chapter eleven continues with the subject of faith and patience. It mentions the heroes of faith, including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses’ parents, Moses, Joshua, Rahab and many other heroes of the faith including David, Samson, Samuel, and Gideon. Hebrews 11:39-40 says, “And these all, [the heroes of faith] having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise [speaking of Jesus, the Messiah].
They longed for Messiah to come, but they never saw him in their lifetime. These heroes of faith let us learn endurance. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of those heroes. It says, “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, [these heroes of faith] let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Paul encouraged the Hebrews to run their race and not give up. That is a word also for us. We must run the race, looking unto the author and finisher of the race, Jesus Christ and not give up whether we receive the promise in our lifetime or not.
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