Sluggishness and Faith

Hebrews 6: 11-12

11 "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Beloved friends, as I have been studying Hebrews, the Lord has been opening my eyes, challenging my heart, and teaching me deeper truths. Today I wanted to share some of that with you from Hebrews 6. I pray this will be a great encouragement to you in your walk today and in the days to come.

In this passage the author encourages his audience not to be sluggish but what does that word mean? In the Greek, sluggishness actually means "an inborn sluggishness which makes a person unfit for activities of the mind or spirit". This reminds me of the wrestling match I have with my sin nature to do what is right; my regenerate heart desires to do God's will but my flesh wants to live an easier life. This battle is resonated in Pauls words in Romans 7:15 , "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."

Instead of just telling them what NOT to do, he puts before them the example of those who have gone before, those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. That faith he speaks of is confidence in certain divine truths, especially those of the gospel. Yet faith does not stand alone, it is coupled with patience. Patience in this context is is actually self-restraint of the mind before it gives room to action or passion... so I see a forbearance of nature as a lifestyle.

This, dear friends, is the Christian life... active, faithful, patient, focused on God's promises. Our walks are exactly that, they are a walk... an active life, one that is lived out by applying the truth of God's Word to every aspect of our lives. We do not do what we do without purpose, by His grace we demonstrate faith and patience as we hold on to the promises of a faithful, changeless God, One who is not slack concerning His promise (II Peter 3:9).

Be encouraged today, whatever your trial or joy may be... God is faithful, you are firmly in His grip.

~G

Back in the Saddle Again

Well, if there are any of you out there who may still check out my blog, I am back in the saddle again. I am not sure how often I will post but I am ready again to pick up the "pen".

My youngest daughter and I are going through the book of Hebrews this semester. We are reading and rereading it, taking a bite of it at a time and inductively studying it. You know, it is amazing how much God has packed in to His Word... to think I only scratch the surface! Today we were in Hebrews 6:10-20. One of the questions that we asked of the text is, "How does this passage encourage believers?"

Here are a few of those encouragements:

~God is not unjust to forget your work or your labor of love shown toward His name (v. 10)

~God is unchangeable in purpose (v. 17)

~It is impossible for God to lie (v. 18)

Why is this encouraging?

~We who have taken refuge have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us (v.18)

~That hope is an anchor to our soul, both sure and steadfast (v. 19)

~Jesus is our forerunner, our eternal High Priest (v. 20)

Because God's Word is exactly that, God's Word, it is absolute truth. We can look to these verses and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Christ did come, did die for our sins, did rise again on the third day, and He now sits at the right hand of the Father. Be strongly encouraged to take hold of that hold and hold firm to the end.

God bless you today and you cling to Him and His Word.
~G