Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

We are not the sort that shrink back to destruction, but the sort that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.--Heb. 10:39

Watchtower comments: ''Jehovah's servants today courageously preach the good news because they are of the same mind as the apostle Paul. To ''shrink back,'' as Paul mentioned, does not mean just to experience a temporary bout of fear, for many faithful servants of God have at times been afraid. (1Sam. 21:12; 1Ki. 19:1-4) Rather, it means ''to draw back, withdraw,'' to be remiss 'remiss in holding the truth,'' explains one Bible dictionary. It adds that 'shrink back' may be a metaphor based on ''lowering a sail and so slackening the course'' in regard to God's service. Of course, those with strong faith give no consideration to ''slackening the course'' when difficulty arises--be it persecution, ill health, or some other trial. Instead, they press on in serving Jehovah, aware that he deeply cares for them and knows their limitations.--Ps. 55:22; 103;14. w06 10/1 1:7

As the scripture today was taken from Hebrews I was thinking along the lines of faith and how important it is to have a strong faith as well as a living faith. :love:

''But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,'' and, ''if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.'' Heb. 10:38

I remember reading awhile ago that faith and the word 'trust' go together. God wants us to be strong in faith--and strong in trust...a Beautiful thing....especially as faith is described as ''the assured expection of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.'' Heb. 11:1 and...

I also love how Whittier put it....:rose:

''Nothing before , nothing behind.
The steps of faith
Fall on the seeming void, and find the rock beneath.'':rose::rose:

Beautiful! :giverose: Just beautiful. :giverose: (And, ... Thank You.) :giverose:

Thanks so much dearest wooffette for your lovely texts these last couple of days!! :thumbsup::giverose::siskiss:

I had company for supper and they just left about 2 minutes ago and here I am now sharing some time with ya'll before I go off to bed ... :sleepy:

My thought to add to the lovely ones already is ...

What can also help us to not shrink back besides the faith that we NEED to have ...

I am kind of thinking along the lines of SECURITY ...

Ps. 55:22 ...

(ASV) Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

(CEV) Our LORD, we belong to you. We tell you what worries us, and you won't let us fall.

(ESV) Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

(GNB) Leave your troubles with the LORD, and he will defend you; he never lets honest people be defeated.

(GW) Turn your burdens over to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble.

The Hebrew word used for 'sustain' is a really good one to show just why we should have every confidence in our Great God Jehovah!!

kûl kool

A primitive root; properly to keep in; hence to measure; figuratively to maintain (in various senses): - (be able to, can) abide, bear, comprehend, contain, feed, forbearing, guide, hold (-ing in), nourish (-er), be present, make provision, receive, sustain, provide sustenance (victuals).

Yes, our heavenly Father gives us MANY things to be able to help us not to 'shrink back' doesn't he ...

What might cause us to go backward instead of forward ... :dontknow:

Perhaps we become FEARFUL :shocked: of what may come upon us from being a servant of God and a footstep follower of Christ ...

Well, in this 'sustaining' that our God does it says he 'abides' with us or 'holds' us ... so KNOWING and BELIEVING this ... really LOVING our God and knowing and believing HE loves US ...will help us to throw that fear outside will it not ... :thumbsup:

Perhaps we begin to yearn for the material things of the world, thinking that we need to do so in order to survive in this system of things ...

Well, our heavenly Father is also a SUSTAINER and NOURISHER and so coming to know and believe THIS as well will help us not to 'shrink back' to the lure of what the world TEMPORARILY can offer us ... and find security and strength in the knowing that God's sustaining power on many levels is not only for the now but for the everlasting ... :cheer:

Yes, learning to feel SECURE in our relationship with our God ... is to me something that we all need to do in order to help us out in our faith as well.

For how we can 'trust', as wolfie says, without feeling 'secure' or 'safe' in that in which we need to have faith ...?:thinking:

Another good scripture to perhaps look at is Ps. 9:10 and also goes along with wolfie's thoughts as well I think ... :read::love:

(ASV) And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; For thou, Jehovah, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

(BBE) And those who have knowledge of your name will put their faith in you; because you, Lord, have ever given your help to those who were waiting for you.

(CEV) Everyone who honors your name can trust you, because you are faithful to all who depend on you.

So, indeed let us not 'shrink back' ... but instead let us 'grow ahead'!! :cheer::cheer:

Great text ... I love it when there are many thoughts from my family!! :grouphug:

Luv as always ... BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts: