Today I begin again what I once did every day.  More than six years have passed since I last wrote a daily devotional.  Today I begin it again on a weekly basis.  And with this first devotional I tell you this one thing; hold fast. 

 

Who can doubt that we live in troubled times?  I don't have to remind you; the news reminds you... the radio reminds you... everyone you talk to reminds you.  We live in troubled times.  Ok... so I reminded you.  What do we do about it?  When banks go under and markets fall, when neither love nor compassion are priorities any longer, when wars and rumors of wars is all that we hear, when pain and worry and hard times are all over the place; what do we do???

 

The Bible says "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (I Thess 5:21)  In other words, don't accept everything... but latch onto those things that are good and valuable and worth something and never ever let those things go!  The Apostle Paul wrote those words to a group of people who were going through hard times.  They had trouble from within and trouble from the outside.  Paul gave them some very practical advice; find out what is good and hold onto it no matter what.  We live in a world that doesn't just have plenty of trouble; we also have a world full of people who don't know what to do about it.  What do you do? Try to cope... hope for the best... grin and bear the trouble?  And there's always the option of grumbling, complaining, and becoming bitter towards life and everything in it.  Paul, someone who knew real trouble, told those who were going through real trouble; "Hold fast".

 

Could it be that God is still God, even now?  Could it be that inspite of a situation on earth that seems nearly hopeless, the God of heaven and earth is still helping... comforting... protecting... saving?  That is the message Paul wrote to those who were going through terrible times; "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

 

With this first devotional, I give you what Paul gave that ragtag group in Thessalonica nearly 2,000 years ago.  Think about it; what would happen if the only things you held onto were good things; things like faith in God, hope for a future with Him, His love for us and for our fellow neighbors down here on earth- who... by the way... are also going through tough times.  What would happen if we held fast to God instead of trying everything else that has never worked before?  Maybe... just maybe... God would prove to be faithful, good, and full of love and compassion for anyone and everyone who will put their trust in Him.  Hold fast!

 

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds."

                                                                                                                                              - Hebrews 10:23-24

In Christ Jesus,

Joshua

email: joshuacrouch@live.com