Hebrews 3:12-13
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Hebrews 10: 23-25
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

These are written to believers. I do not believe that a real Christian can loose their salvation, although it is possible to have “a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” It is a serious warning to all believers “so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” A heart which was once turned towards God but then sinful/unbelieving, it turned away.

I became disabled about 5 years ago due to cancer. I survived the chemo and bone marrow transplant but it left me a fraction of the physical man that I was. Since I appear to be okay other than being in a wheelchair, people tell me that I look good and I think to myself, “Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgment.” (John 7:24) I feel horrible physical pain but I smile and I ask them how they are doing. I might share a little bit of my struggle (they can’t handle too much of it) and I tell them that God Who is faithful gives me grace, faith, and strength for today.

It is extremely difficult for me to attend our church service every Sunday but it is part of what God has called me to do. The most important thing that I do all week is ministry before service starts after it ends when I talk to anyone who will come up to me. I might give them a hug, ask them specific questions about their lives, (not the general “how are you” but a targeted “how is your relationship with your adult daughter going?”). I will reach out and pray for them.

I speak life and faith into the lives of my fellow believers, the “seekers”, and the curious.

When we finally get back home I am completely spent. “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Phil 2:17-18)

Also Philippians 1:23-26
“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;” (and I personally understand this now), “but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”

There are 2 Psalms that I’d like to share. The first is Psalm 13. It is so short, only 6 verses. The first 4 reveal the inner turmoil that all of us have felt at one time or another. David expresses it so very well. But David doesn’t stay in that deadly state of discouragement, depression, and despair. Not at all! In the last 2 verses he states truth! (In the first 4 he asks questions, makes demands, expresses fear.)  Commentary and psychology cannot improve on these few, short verses:

Psalm 13 – For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?  

3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

4 my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

There is another Psalm that I like because it, too, expresses our human feelings followed by God’s Truth. (I’m not trying to ignore feelings. God gave them to us but like everything else they are in a sinful, fallen state. We must renew our emotions as we are to renew our minds. Emotions must be subject to the Truth. Only then can they reflect the Glory of God.)

Psalm 73, written by my friend Asaph. The first half, (14 of 28 verses), express his great frustration.

I am particularly impressed with verse 15:  “If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ I would have betrayed your children.”  Just by speaking aloud of his faithless discouragement, it would spread and offend against a generation!

The last 8 verses give me much encouragement and hope:

21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,  

 22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.  

 23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.  

 24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.  

 25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  

 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.  

 27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.  

 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

I will tell of all His deeds. That’s what I’m called to do. Even while my body is racked with pain and wasting away fighting the cancers, fighting unusual and miserable symptoms & medical procedures (please don’t ask about them), frustrating limitations, even in the very worse of circumstances, even in every disaster—God is good and God is great. A Sovereign, Almighty, and Loving God is my God.  I trust in His unfailing love; my heart rejoices in His salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.