The concept of being "maintained" in the Bible often relates to God's provision, sustenance, and support for His creation and His people. This theme is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating God's faithfulness and the believer's reliance on Him.

Divine Provision and Sustenance

God's role as the sustainer of life is a central theme in the Bible. In Genesis 1:29-30, God provides food for both humans and animals, establishing His role as the provider from the very beginning. This provision is not limited to physical sustenance but extends to spiritual and emotional support. In Psalm 55:22, the psalmist encourages believers to "cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken" . This verse highlights the assurance that God maintains the righteous, offering them stability and support.

God's Faithfulness to His People

Throughout the history of Israel, God maintained His covenant with His people, despite their frequent disobedience. In Deuteronomy 8:3-4, Moses reminds the Israelites of God's faithfulness during their wilderness journey: "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years" . This passage underscores God's continuous care and provision, maintaining His people even in difficult circumstances.

The Role of Faith and Obedience

While God maintains His creation, there is an expectation of faith and obedience from His people. In Proverbs 3:5-6, believers are instructed to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" . This trust in God is a prerequisite for experiencing His sustaining power. Similarly, in John 15:4-5, Jesus emphasizes the importance of abiding in Him: "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing" . This metaphor illustrates the necessity of a close relationship with Christ to be maintained spiritually.

God's Maintenance of Creation

The Bible also speaks to God's maintenance of the natural world. In Colossians 1:16-17, Paul writes about Christ's role in creation: "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" . This passage affirms that Christ is actively involved in sustaining the universe, maintaining the order and existence of all things.

Human Responsibility in Maintenance

While God is the ultimate maintainer, humans are also given responsibilities to maintain what God has entrusted to them. In Genesis 2:15, Adam is placed in the Garden of Eden "to work it and take care of it" . This stewardship principle extends to all areas of life, including relationships, resources, and the environment. Believers are called to be faithful stewards, maintaining what God has provided in a way that honors Him.

Conclusion

The theme of being maintained in the Bible encompasses God's provision, faithfulness, and the believer's responsibility to trust and obey. Through His sustaining power, God ensures the well-being of His creation and His people, inviting them to rely on Him fully.(imp. & p. p.) of Maintain.2192. echo -- to have, hold
... held (1), hold (5), holding (7), holds (2), ill* (5), incurring (1), involves (1),
keep (3), keeping (3), kept (1), maintain (1), maintained (1), maintaining (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2192.htm - 11k8104. shamar -- to keep, watch, preserve
... keep (1), heeds (1), hoarded (1), indignant (1), keep (156), keeper (8), keepers
(2), keeping (10), keeps (19), kept (38), kept watch (2), maintained (1), mark ...
/hebrew/8104.htm - 7k

6213a. asah -- do, make
... 1), inflicted (1), inlaid (1), instituted (2), introduced (2), keep (1), kept (1),
labored (1), laborers (1), made (369), maintain (6), maintained (1), make ...
/hebrew/6213a.htm - 8k

Sufferings of those who Maintained the Nicene Faith. Agelius, the ...
... Book VI. Chapter IX."Sufferings of those who maintained the Nicene Faith.
Agelius, the Ruler of the Novatians. The Christians ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter ix sufferings of those who.htm

The Physical Philosophers Maintained the Divinity of the Elements ...
... Book II. Chapter III."The Physical Philosophers Maintained the Divinity
of the Elements; The Absurdity of the Tenet Exposed. From ...
/.../tertullian/ad nationes/chapter iii the physical philosophers maintained.htm

The First Order of Production Maintained by the Heretics is ...
... Against Heresies: Book II Chapter XIII."The first order of production
maintained by the heretics is altogether indefensible. 1 ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xiii the first order of.htm

Concerning the Departing, the Ancient Canonical Law is Still to be ...
... Canon XIII. Concerning the departing, the ancient canonical law is still
to be maintained? Concerning the departing, the ancient ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xiii concerning the departing.htm

That when a Wrong is Received, Patience is to be Maintained, and ...
... Third Book. 106. That when a wrong is received, patience is to be maintained,
and vengeance to be left to God. "Say not, I will ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/106 that when a wrong.htm

That Humility and Quietness are to be Maintained in all Things.
... Third Book. 5. That humility and quietness are to be maintained in all
things. In Isaiah: "Thus saith the Lord God, The heaven is ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/5 that humility and quietness.htm

What the Christians Believe Regarding the Supreme Good and Evil ...
... Chapter 4."What the Christians Believe Regarding the Supreme Good and Evil, in
Opposition to the Philosophers, Who Have Maintained that the Supreme Good is ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 4 what the christians believe.htm

Augustin Has no Objection to the Opinion About the Propagation of ...
... origin, Chapter 33."Augustin Has No Objection to the Opinion About the Propagation
of Souls Being Refuted, and that About Their Insufflation Being Maintained ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 33 augustin has no objection.htm

God's Grace to be Maintained against the Pelagians; the Pelagian ...
... A Treatise on grace and free will, Chapter 6 [IV.]"God's Grace to Be Maintained
Against the Pelagians; The Pelagian Heresy Not an Old One. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 6 iv gods grace to.htm

Maximus, Bishop of Jerusalem.
... "If, again, perchance any one should think that there is a third view which may
be consistently maintained with regard to uncreated substances,"namely, that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/maximus bishop of jerusalem.htm

Maintained (19 Occurrences)
...Maintained (19 Occurrences). Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees maintained, "It is by
the power of the Prince of the demons that he drives out the demons." (WEY). ...
/m/maintained.htm - 12k

Ciccar
... Until recently the traditional view that this circle of the Jordan was at
the south end of the Dead Sea was universally maintained. ...
/c/ciccar.htm - 14k

Keys (2 Occurrences)
... Authority? II. VIEWS MAINTAINED 1. Agent of the Power 2. Nature of the Power
3. Scope of the Power III. DATA ... laid. II. Views Maintained. 1 ...
/k/keys.htm - 32k

Punishment (417 Occurrences)
... Punishment proceeds on the principle that there is an eternal distinction between
right and wrong, and that this distinction must be maintained for its own sake ...
/p/punishment.htm - 62k

Poor (276 Occurrences)
... (7) The equality of rich and poor before God and the superiority of the righteous
poor to the ungodly rich, etc., are maintained (Proverbs 19:1, 22; Proverbs 22 ...
/p/poor.htm - 60k

Ebionites
... Pella. They denied the miraculous birth of our Lord, but maintained that
a Divine influence came down upon Him at His baptism. This ...
/e/ebionites.htm - 34k

Ebionism
... Pella. They denied the miraculous birth of our Lord, but maintained that
a Divine influence came down upon Him at His baptism. This ...
/e/ebionism.htm - 34k

Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)
... It is usually maintained that the earlier name of Thessalonica was Therma or Therme,
a town mentioned both by Herodotus (vii.121;, 179;) and by Thucydides (i0 ...
/t/thessalonica.htm - 25k

Gospels
... It has even been maintained (S. Baring-Gould, Lost and Hostile Gospels, xxiii, London,
1874) that at the close of the 1st century, almost every church had its ...
/g/gospels.htm - 73k

Plain (113 Occurrences)
... Until recently the traditional view that this circle of the Jordan was at
the south end of the Dead Sea was universally maintained. ...
/p/plain.htm - 71k

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