Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026
As part of your discipline, you need to endure (Heb. 12:7).
What would help Hebrew Christians endure persecution? The apostle Paul knew they needed to view trials from the right perspective. That is why he explained that God might allow someone to go through difficulties to help them become a better Christian. They should see these trials as part of a training process that would help them cultivate and refine essential qualities. It would be easier for them to endure trials if they focused on how they would grow much as Christians through them (Heb. 12:11).
Paul encouraged those Christians to endure and not give up. And his words carried weight. Why? For one thing, he had persecuted Christians in the past, so he knew very well what they were facing. For another, he had experience enduring persecution, because after becoming a Christian he had been attacked in many ways (2 Cor. 11:23-25). Paul knew very well what it took to endure. That is why he reminded them that they should not rely on themselves, but rather on Jehovah. He himself courageously said: “Jehovah is my helper. I will not be afraid” (Heb. 13:6). w24.09 12, 13 pars. 16, 17
Why was it so important for Christians to have endurance?
As the situation in Judea grew increasingly dire, Christians would have to endure trials of faith (Heb. 10:36). Although some had withstood persecution in the past, many had accepted the truth during a period of relative peace. Now, Paul warned them that the persecution would intensify and that they would need to be ready to remain faithful to the point of death, just as Jesus had (Heb. 12:4). With the growing number of Christians, many Jewish zealots were becoming increasingly enraged. A few years earlier, when Paul was preaching in Jerusalem, a mob attacked him. And more than 40 Jews “bound themselves with a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul” (Acts 22:22; 23:12-14). Despite being surrounded by so many haters, those Christians would have to keep meeting together, preaching, and maintaining their strong faith.
What do we need to be clear about, and what should we do from now on?
Today, some of our brothers and sisters are enduring persecution. We can show our love and support for them by praying for them and, in some cases, by taking practical steps for them (Heb. 10:33). The Bible states plainly: “All those desiring to live with devotion to God in union with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). This means that we all need to prepare for difficult times. We must put our complete trust in Jehovah and be confident that he will help us endure whatever comes. He will give his faithful servants relief in due time (2 Thess. 1:7, 8).
What things can we do to prepare for the great tribulation?
The letter Paul wrote to the Hebrews must have greatly helped them prepare for what lay ahead. Paul encouraged them to increase their knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures. In this way, they would be ready to identify and reject teachings that could weaken their faith. He also told them to strengthen their faith so that they would obey without hesitation the instructions of Jesus and those leading the congregation. And he showed them that it would be easier for them to endure if they viewed the trials from the right perspective—as opportunities given to them by their loving Father to grow as Christians. If we too apply this inspired counsel, we will be able to endure faithfully to the end. (Heb. 3:14)
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