one step: Hebrews 10.3

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*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.

one step: Hebrews 10.2

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

We have a terrible enemy. Amongst other things, he would like to take a temporary theory based in the season of COVID-19 lockdowns and make it a permanent fixture in our belief system: there is safety in solitude.

The author of Hebrews disagrees.

In fact, the author insists that we “consider” … what does he mean? Are we to sit around and think about ways to encourage others to good works and to meet together?

The Greek word katanoeō is translated as “consider,” but it might better be translated as “take notice of,” or “keep an eye on one another.”* Maybe you have been in situations within church communities that felt like gossip and judgementalism reigned supreme. This is not what the author of Hebrews is talking about. He is talking about looking out for one another for the sake of love.* The author tells us that to forsake this kind of intentional involvement in Christian community is a recipe for falling away from Christ.*

We all hit rough spots in life. Sometimes these difficult seasons bring us to a place so low that we cannot lift ourselves up. We need encouragement, and encouragement cannot happen in isolation.*

The author of Hebrews does not intend his words to be wielded as a weapon for church event burnout. It’s not about being in a building every time it’s open, or being involved in a meeting every time it takes place.* God desires that we meaningfully engage regularly in the life of the body of Christ.*

Isolation isn’t safe. It’s dangerous. We need each other.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to meaningfully engage in the community of Jesus. Perhaps God would have you change your mind on isolation. Maybe today God would have you begin to pay attention to those around you, looking for opportunities to encourage believers who are going through a tough time.

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:19–25). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 507–508). 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. 136–137). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 345–346, 348). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: water break

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.

Genesis 12:1

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

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Why does God need to repeat Himself? God called Abraham to a place that He would show him, and God promised Him that he would become a nation and bless Abraham that he might be a blessing. Furthermore, God promised that those who blessed him would be blessed and those that cursed him would be cursed.

It’s interesting that this blessing comes in Genesis 12:1, and that by Genesis 12:7, Abraham has his eyes on the land. In Genesis 13:14-16, God repeats to Abraham that the land that Abraham sees is his, and tells Abraham that his offspring will be countless. Then, in Genesis 15:1-7 God repeats these promises.

Why?

In these 3 short chapters, a lot of life happened. Abraham and his family experienced and fled from a famine, got into a difficult situation with Pharaoh of Egypt, parted ways with the last of his extended family, and got into a battle against four kings to rescue Lot and won. A lot of life happened, and it was all very stressful and potentially discouraging. It could not have been the kind of journey that Abraham expected, and the potential for defeat and loss lay at every turn.

How many times does God call us to step out in faith to a “place that He will show us,” and then it gets really hard? How many times do we take a step of faith that feels so big only to be asked to take another and another?

Life does not stop happening when God calls us out in faith, and often times the step of faith we take is the first of many.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to continue in faith. Perhaps today God wants you to trust that His promises for you are still true. Maybe today God wants you to pause long enough to allow Him to repeat His promises to you. Perhaps today God wants you to return to His Word to receive what you need for the next step.

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. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

one step: Hebrews 10.1

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

I just love how confidently complete the work of Jesus Christ was! I imagine Jesus as a basketball player in the NBA. It’s the most important game of all time, and no one knows how He will win. Backed into His own zone, Jesus is pinned. Then, without warning, as the game clock ticks toward zero, Jesus steps back, and shoots a fade-away from well behind half-court. As the ball arcs high into the air, Jesus walks off the court, sits down next to the coach (who is also sitting unworried), and rests. The filled stadium waits in silent anticipation as the ball follows its masterful trajectory toward the net…

This is what happened when Jesus died and rose again! After His sacrifice, Jesus walked over and sat at the right hand of God. There was nothing else to do! The perfect act of victory was done, and now all of creation and Jesus watch and wait until it's all secured.

I wish you could see the image in my mind right now of Jesus sitting and relaxing in victorious confidence, awaiting the buzzer saying, “it’s all over!” The picture of Jesus sitting is powerful.

Interestingly, there were no seats in the tabernacle.* The priests had to remain standing at all times, reflecting the truth that their job was never complete (the sacrifices they made needed constant repetition).* Thus, the sitting of Jesus symbolizes His permanent completion of work in a profound way. He’s not taking a break; He is finished.

Furthermore, when the ball flies through the net and the buzzer finally does sound, Jesus's enemies don’t just go home to await the next game. No, they become his foot rest for maximum relaxation! Jesus is amazing!

The confidence that Jesus walks in… imagine… what if we walked in that same confidence in what He accomplished? The victory is already won; now it’s just a matter of waiting.

Take a load off. Have a seat. Pretty soon you too will get to prop up your feet.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that Jesus already won. Perhaps you have been waiting a long time to feel victorious and God wants you to begin to wait in confidence in the victory.

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 10:11–18). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 484). 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. 131). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 328–329). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Hebrews 9.2

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

The sacrifice of Christ took care of sin once and for all.* This is especially important because had it not, Christ would have had to die repeatedly since the foundation of the world.* As it is, His sacrifice reached back to Adam and Eve and into eternity.* That’s powerful! If all was taken care of via the sacrifice of Christ, why does there need to be a second coming of Jesus?

Hebrews 9 is the only place in the New Testament that uses the words the “second coming.”* This second coming, as 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us, will deal with the physical body (we were saved spiritually, we are being saved in our souls as we form to be more like Christ, and we will be saved in our bodies).* Our bodies must be saved as the whole person becomes the dwelling place of God for eternity.* As it is, our bodies are not eternal.

Because sin has been taken care of once and for all, Jesus does not come a second time as He did the first: as a humble sacrificial lamb.* He comes as a victor who shares the spoils of his victory with His people.* The second coming will be the completion of the salvation of His people: complete deliverance (for those who believe in Jesus) from sin and from this fallen world and all that is wrapped up in it.*

But then what…

The uncertainty of what is next haunts many. Do we live in an etherial cloud? Do we maintain our consciousness and our sense of self? Passages outside of the book of Hebrews shed light on this, but from Hebrews 9, we gather that heaven is the place that we follow our great high priest Jesus Christ into (He didn’t lose His sense of self or true identity, neither will we).* In heaven, we draw near to God.* In heaven, we will know fully the presence of of God.* As George Guthrie shares,

Heaven is ultimately the place of God’s presence fully known and experienced.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to rest assured (take a deep breath) that if you believe in Jesus, your past, present, and future is secured completely and totally. Perhaps today God wants you to allow Him to continue to save your soul as He forms you to the image of Christ. Maybe today God wants you to care for the temple of God (your body) that He has given you, though one day He will restore it completely.

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 9:15–28). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 464–466). 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. 124–125). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 315–316, 320). Zondervan Publishing House.