“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)
Someone is going through a very difficult time right now! It may have to do with health issues … financial issues … family issues … or even personal issues! The fact is … there are things going on in our hearts and lives that are unsettling, challenging and in fact being disruptive to genuine peace in one’s heart!
Is that someone you or someone you love? When someone asks us to pray for them, we immediately confirm their request with “of course!” And when others in turn tell us they are praying for us … it means so much to know they are being mindful of us.
In the context of Hebrews 13:18-21, the inspired writer speaks of these early Hebrew Christians who were dealing with a strong and enticing drawstring that was seeking to bring them back to the Old Law for their hope and salvation. Satan was doing a most effective job in luring them back … taking their eyes off of Jesus … and in becoming weary, confused and undecided about which way to live!
Does this sound familiar? Don’t we all have those moments when our hearts, minds and lives are filled with spinning thoughts of uncertainty, fear and perhaps some doubt? Something happens … something is said … something is done!
So, how do we deal with such issues? The comfort, guidance and assurance that our loving and caring Heavenly Father offers to His children through the life and assistance of His Son, Jesus Christ, can be compared to and in fact is compared to the love and protection a shepherd provides for the sheep under his charge!
My friends, God is in no way indifferent to our needs! Our God is in no way unmindful of what we are always going through! Our God promises to provide for us … to help us in the accomplishing of that which He desires of us!
Our children and grandchildren relish the assurance that we love them so very much and that we are willing to do whatever it takes to provide, care for and insure their safety and success.
Read the familiar words of the apostle Paul expressed in the closing thoughts of the Book of Philippians to brothers and sisters in Christ that he loved, respected and cared for so much because they needed reassurance, just like us! “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
How comforting it is to know that whatever it is that God is expecting of us in this life He will provide the ways and means for us to do just that … His will! You see … our God is not only an awesome God … He is a God of infinite resources!
Our God will not send us out to go and do what He wants us to without equipping and enabling us to succeed! Just as we want to provide all of the things necessary for our children to be healthy and to succeed at whatever it is they are hoping to participate in … so He does for each of us!
The power of God and the assurance of His providential care are resources that cannot be exhausted. We can be and often are exhausted in trying to meet the needs of those we love.
When the writer of Hebrews pens, “Now may the God of peace … make you complete NKJV), equip (ESV) perfect (KJV) …” this would be a phrase they would immediately understand.
- A physician would recognize it in terms of “setting a broken bone.”
- The fisherman would recognize it in terms of “mending a broken or torn net.”
- The sailor would recognize it in terms of “outfitting/equipping a ship for a voyage.”
- And the soldier would recognize it in terms of “equipping an army for battle.”
God, our Heavenly Father; Jesus Christ, our Savior; both want the very same thing. They want to equip you and I for life on earth … mending the broken bones in our lives enabling us to walk and run our race of life successfully!
God and Jesus Christ want to repair the breaks in the nets so that we might be able to catch and win souls to Him!
God and Christ want to equip and outfit each of us so that we can be victorious at the end of our journey! The Holy Spirit has revealed to us God’s Book to show us the way.
Very simply, God and Jesus Christ are providing just what we need to grow and mature in our faith and service that glorifies them! Truly as the song says, “The Lord has been mindful of me. He blesses and blesses again.”
“The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us …” (Psalm 115:112)
Bill Fairchild, Jr
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