Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne.

Hebrews 12:2

Endure what you suffer as being a father’s punishment; your suffering shows that God is treating you as his sons. Was there ever a son who was not punished by his father? If you are not punished, as all his sons are, it means you are not real sons, but bastards.

Hebrews 12:7-8

Be careful, then, and do not refuse to hear him who speaks. Those who refused to hear the one who gave the divine message on earth did not escape. How much less shall we escape, then, if we turn away from the one who speaks from heaven!

Hebrews 12:25

See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of the worthless deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by men and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from Christ. For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity, and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority.

Colossians 2:8-10

Of all the choices we make in life, few affect us more powerfully than our choice between gratitude and grumbling. An honest look at our lives will reveal which choice we have made. If it’s grumbling, we probably see few blessings. If it is gratitude, we not only find innumerable blessings – they seem to find us!

Our Daily Bread – November 21, 2001