Daily Devotional – Hebrews 6:19 – October 23, 2023

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
Hebrews 6:19

When you think of an anchor, images probably come to mind of the classic two pronged anchor that we’ve all seen in cartoons and sailor tattoos. We might imagine pirate ships or steam boats or cruise ships. If you’re a more modern boater, you might think of tossing out an anchor from your fishing boat or family pontoon to keep you in just the right spot. In any case, an anchor serves a very specific purpose – to hold the boat steady in one place. The anchor keeps a boat from being moved and pulled by wind, waves, currents, and tides.

For Christians, our anchor takes the form of a cross.

The writer of Hebrews says that our anchor is hope. Specifically, the hope of salvation offered to us by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. To make amends for our sin, he died, even though he was innocent of all sin and he was the very son of God in the flesh. He had all power to end it, to overpower those who tried to kill him, to resist, to do anything he wanted, really, and he chose to die on our behalf. His perfect righteousness was offered to us as a substitute for our unholiness.

That hope, the hope of eternal life earned not by ourselves but by Jesus himself, is our anchor. It keeps us firm and secure. When the currents and winds of life come, the anchor keeps us steady. The hope of Jesus Christ holds us firm in our faith.

When the storm is coming and you’re not sure how you’re going to make it, hold fast to the anchor. When temptation and false teaching are pulling at you from every side, hold fast to the anchor.

The gospel of Jesus is solid ground. Our anchor, the cross, is steadfast and unmoving. It is us, the ship floating on top of the water, that is susceptible to be moved. Let us hold tightly to the anchor that keeps us tied to Jesus. Let us cling to the hope of eternal life that he has promised us.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for the cross. Thank you for the hope that Jesus offers us through his death and resurrection. I pray that I will hold tightly to the anchor of hope that you have given me and never swerve from the truth of the gospel.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.