Day 3, #WeWontShrinkBack Devotional

Day 3
 
Scripture: Hebrews 10:35
Today’s #WeWontShrinkBack Tool: Hang onto your identity in Christ and your confidence that He will be faithful to you.
 
 
     A few months ago while I was eating my lunch at Arby’s, I read a story in the Voice of the Martyrs newsletter about a woman named Miriam. Miriam (31) lives in Syria and was born into a Muslim family, but she became a Christian when she was 13 after she found a Bible in her sister’s backpack and began secretly reading it. Since she was 13 years old, she has been beaten by her parents and her brother because of her faith.
     I read how Miriam held onto her faith in Christ, even sharing it with her siblings, while the beatings from her own father and brother left her with head wounds, a broken finger, and a bleeding eye that was permanently damaged.[1] But she continues to go to church, to pray with other believers, and to share what God has done for her. Even through her family’s abuse, she won’t shrink back.
     The day before Miriam spoke in the interview for the article, she was beaten by her family members. But still, she said, “God has freed me from any bitterness toward them…. I love [my parents]. I reject the things they do, but I don’t try anymore to bring reason for what they do. I try to share my faith. I believe the Scripture, ‘You and your family will be saved’ (Acts 16:31). That is what I am holding onto.”[2]
     She’s continuing to love and forgive. She’s continuing to believe the promises in Scripture and share her faith. SHE WON’T SHRINK BACK.
     I don’t know what I would say to Miriam if I had a chance to talk with her. I’d probably want to hug her and tell her how much I admire her.
     If the author of Hebrews could talk to her, I believe he would challenge her to stay strong. He would likely say to her,
 
“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” (Hebrews 10:35)
 
     This is what he said to the original audience when they were being persecuted for their faith. Remember the hardships they faced that we discussed in Day 1?
     What Miriam models well is her confidence in her relationship with God. She is so secure in her identity in Christ that she is willing to suffer instead of forsaking it. She knows that her reward is eternal life with God. And if we have confessed our need for a Savior, placed our trust in Jesus, and surrendered our life to Him, then we also can look forward to the same reward as Miriam.
Whether we are being mistreated by our family in Syria or going through a divorce in America, whether we are caring for children with difficult behavioral problems or caring for an aging parent, we have a choice to make: Will we hang onto our confidence in God?
     I think of the author of Hebrews like a coach who is grabbing us by the shoulders and looking us in the eye to say, “I know this is hard. I know you are tired and sad. But whatever you do, don’t toss your confidence in the trash as if it’s worth nothing now. Don’t discard it in the pile like jeans that don’t fit anymore.”
     The author is reminding us that the story isn’t over. He says that our confidence in God will soon be richly rewarded.
 
     What comes to your mind when you think of the word confidence?
     As I was writing my book, I wanted to write about how building my house helped me to build my confidence. But I realized that the word confidence can have several different connotations. Sometimes the word confidence can be taken as relying on my own strength—some sort of arrogance or pride. But that’s not what I mean.
     When I say that I hope I’ll be confident, I mean that I hope I will be confident in who God made me to be; I hope I will be confident in my season and in my values. Above all, I hope I will be confident in my God and His power, provision, and love.
     Since we find the word confidence in this verse, I was curious what the original Greek word for confidence actually means. The Greek word is parrhesia, which means “free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance.”[3]
     I have listed below a few other places in the New Testament where the word parrhesia is used. 
 
Hebrews 4:14-16
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence [parrhesia] draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
 
Hebrews 10:19-23
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence [parrhesia] to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
 
1 John 5:14
“And this is the confidence [parrhesia] that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
 
I encourage you to reread those verses a few more times as you ask yourself, “How strong is my confidence in God right now?”
 
P.S. I received the news yesterday that my box of books should arrive to my house next Wednesday or Thursday. Hallelujah! :) Can't wait to share them with you guys! You can download my first chapter of She Won't Shrink Back for free. 

[1] (2015). “Why I Haven’t Left Syria.” The Voice of the Martyrs: Iraq & Syria Special Field Report.

[2] (2015). “Why I Haven’t Left Syria.” The Voice of the Martyrs: Iraq & Syria Special Field Report.

[3] http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3954&t=KJV