Study Desk

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.

This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted.

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.

It was by faith that Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doors so the one who brings death would not kill the firstborn sons of Israel.

Women received their dead relatives raised back to life. Others were tortured and refused to accept their freedom so they could be raised from the dead to a better life.

God planned to give us something better so that they would be made perfect, but only together with us.

We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.

Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying.

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 have all had fathers here on earth who disciplined us, and we respected them. So it is even more important that we accept discipline from the Father of our spirits so we will have life.

Our fathers on earth disciplined us for a short time in the way they thought was best. But God disciplines us to help us, so we can become holy as he is.

You have become weak, so make yourselves strong again.

Keep on the right path, so the weak will not stumble but rather be strengthened.

You remember that after Esau did this, he wanted to get his father's blessing, but his father refused. Esau could find no way to change what he had done, even though he wanted the blessing so much that he cried.

What they saw was so terrible that Moses said, "I am shaking with fear."

So be careful and do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Others refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth, and they did not escape. So it will be worse for us if we refuse to listen to God who warns us from heaven.

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,

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

So Jesus also suffered outside the city to make his people holy with his own blood.

So let us go to Jesus outside the camp, holding on as he did when we are abused.