What I am learning from Hebrews

Yesterday I read John 6:60 to 71 for devotions.


Many Disciples Desert Jesus
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit [e] and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them."
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God."
Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)


It kinda reminded me of our studies of Hebrews. We just finished the pulpit series on Hebrews. I didn't like the book very much at first. It's written in a way that makes it very difficult to read and understand. In fact, even after I had read the New Living Translation of the book at least twice, I still don't quite get it.


But, through the weekly sermons, the cell group word study, and also personal devotional readings, I have found that it's a rich book with much of God's wisdom for us to embrace and apply in our christian living.


One particular message that is particularly useful for this period, is the call to persevere in our faith. But why persevere?


I thought the answer was that there is no better option. But, maybe that sounds passive and fatalistic. But, is there any better choice other than to believe in the God who saves, and will be faithful to the end. To know and to hope in that there will come a day when the sufferings and misery will end, and that good does triumph.