Saturday... He has the upper hand.

As I read in Psalms 74, Isaiah 14 and Hebrews 12 this morning I came to the conclusion that no matter what is happening around us, God has the upper hand.

In the last two verses of Hebrews 12, verses 28 & 29 (NLT) says, "Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire." He has the upper hand. He really does. He knows what he is doing. He has been through this before.

The writer stars this chapter in verse 1 by saying, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." They know that God has the upper hand but they also know what will hold us back and they know what we need to do.

Verse 2 says, "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." Then verse 3 says, "Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won't become weary and give up."

In Jesus' humanness he had times that I'm sure he wanted to give up but he also knew his Father and that he has the upper hand. Yes the agony of the cross was happening but just around the corner there was the resurrection and a "place of honor beside God's throne."

Yes, "Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won't become weary and give up." Jesus knew that his Father had the upper hand.

Two verses in Hebrews 11 are important for us to see. Verse 1 says, "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." And we need to remember what verse 6 says, "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."

Remember, God has the upper hand. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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