Study Desk

Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised.

You helped the prisoners. You even had joy when all that you owned was taken from you, because you knew you had something better and more lasting.

It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered and called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.

It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven so he would not die. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. Before he was taken, the Scripture says that he was a man who truly pleased God.

He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised.

But they were waiting for a better country—a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.

He thought it was better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking for God's reward.

Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne.

So hold on through your sufferings, because they are like a father's discipline. God is treating you as children. All children are disciplined by their fathers.

We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful at the time, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right way.

So let us be thankful, because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We should worship God in a way that pleases him with respect and fear,

because our God is like a fire that burns things up.

Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it.

So we can be sure when we say, "I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper. People can't do anything to me." Psalm 118:6

Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God.

Obey your leaders and act under their authority. They are watching over you, because they are responsible for your souls. Obey them so that they will do this work with joy, not sadness. It will not help you to make their work hard.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience, because we always want to do the right thing.

I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so you can do what he wants. God raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, because of the blood of his death. His blood began the eternal agreement that God made with his people. I pray that God will do in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, and to him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

My brothers and sisters, I beg you to listen patiently to this message I have written to encourage you, because it is not very long.

because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.