Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
From business meetings to singing competitions, confidence seems to prove itself as a valuable asset. Why would anyone throw it away?
At the time of this letter, though the details are few, scholars believe that the readers of Hebrews 10 experienced persecution that may have been from hostile populations and locals rather than an organized governmental persecution.* That said, scholars believe the letter of Hebrews may have been written to a group in Rome, placing them in close proximity to the bloody persecution of Nero.* This perspective may have caused the persecution to come with a large amount of stress of what the persecution may develop into. No matter the case, however, none of us desire any kind of persecution. It was this persecution that served as a catalyst to a temptation to throw off confidence in Christ.*
The word “confidence” that the author uses describes a boldness and assurance.* This invitation to approach the world with confidence is the same confidence that the believer is invited to use when approaching God Himself (Hebrews 10:19).* The confidence we need to rightly face this world (no matter the circumstances) is related to the confidence with which we approach God. So what is this confidence?
The author of Hebrews does not instruct the believers to find or show confidence; he indicates that they already have it.* This confidence didn’t come from any effort of their own (as worldly, faulty confidence does), but it came from the priestly ministry of Jesus - He gave it to them.* When the author of Hebrews instructs the believer to hold onto confidence, He is instructing them to hold onto the gift that Jesus gave them.
When we distance ourselves from the presence of God, we distance ourselves from the gift of Jesus. We forget that we can have confidence despite our circumstances. Without the confidence of Christ, we become intimidated by circumstances that seem to contradict the fact that we enjoy the favor of God.* If we are not approaching God boldly, and we are not approaching this world boldly, we need to look back to Christ.
Are you trying to muster your own confidence? Confidence in what?
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remind you from where your confidence comes. Perhaps today God wants you to step into HIs presence boldly. Maybe today God wants you to step into this world boldly. Perhaps today God wants you to step into the life without a fear of what may be.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:32–39). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 527–528). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 135, 143-144). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 360, 366). Zondervan Publishing House.