For 2020, I have chosen Isiah 41:10 as my personal verse. This lead into a theme for this year’s “His Encouragement” posts. Each week, I will look at another “fear not” Scripture of the Bible. I hope that as we journey together through these verses that we all will learn a little more about trusting God and rooting out the fear in our lives.

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Revelation 1:17 KJV

I’ve been mulling this verse over for several weeks, wondering the significance of the first and the last. Why was that important? What does that mean for us? In Revelation 22:13, it also says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

These phrases represent two opposite ends and the more I thought on them, they reminded me of bookends.

Bookends are used when a shelf isn’t full. We are not complete in Christ as of yet. Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…”

Bookends are used when no other support is available. God holds us up when we feel we’ve been forsaken by everyone else. Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Bookends keep books from falling over. God will keep us from falling into sin. Jude 1:24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy…”

Bookends work best when they’re a matching pair. God doesn’t change. He’s always the same. Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not…” Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Bookends provide stability. It is our faith in God that brings stability to our homes and lives no matter the storms that come our way. Luke 6:48, “He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”

He was here before time began and he’ll be here still when time is ended.

He was here before your life began and he’ll be here still when your life is ended.

He was here before your trial began and he’ll be here still when your trial is ended.

He is the BOOKENDS TO OUR FAITH.

(Just a note: I thought it was very cool that these verses are found in the first and last chapter of Revelation.)

What scripture is encouraging you today? Share it with us!

Check out these other blogs for more encouragement from God’s word for your Thursday.

Nicole @ Christian Fiction Girl

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective 

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Becca @ The Becca Files

Jenny @ Author Jenny Lynn

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

Leslie @ Words of Hope

Claudia @ Claudia Moser

Keneesha @ Women Loving God’s Way