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
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Our Great Salvation
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
"to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
"who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
I Peter 1: 3-5
Recently I have been working my way through I Peter, trying to really dig in and grow in my understanding of what it is God wants me to learn from it. I sat down, prayed then broke down the above verses as best I could using a Greek Word Study New Testament (please keep in mind that I am no Greek scholar). After having read and reread the passage several times here is what I observed about our great salvation from this passage of scripture:
1) We have been born again according to God's great mercy.
It is by His grace and mercy alone that we can stand before a holy God because we are clothed in Christ's righteousness. God has shown great compassion on those who are born again as we see in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2) We have been born again to a LIVING hope.
Our hope is not vain, dead, or wasted... our hope is a living hope, a vivifying (life giving) hope. That life comes through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. "Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness!" (Hymn: The Solid Rock by Edward Mote)
3) We have been born again to an inheritance which is:
~~imperishable- cannot be corrupted
~~undefiled- cannot be soiled or debased
~~will not decay- unfading as in in cannot ever wear out
~~reserved in heaven-kept, watched over
Our inheritance is not one that can be lost, stolen, squandered, eaten by moths or burned by fire.
It is like nothing on earth, it is eternal, perfect, it's beauty will never fade! It cannot be corrupted, soiled or debased... isn't that wonderful? God has reserved it in heaven FOR YOU. Wow!
4) We are protected by the power of God through faith.
The word protected in this verse has the imagery of a person mounting guard as sentinel, it is being watched in advance, it is completed safe. Why is it safe? Because it is protected by the power of God Almighty- the wind and the waves obey His voice, He spoke the universe into place, He calls all the stars by name, He is God of very God (Psalm 104)! HE is the one who protects those who have placed their faith in Him. Hallelujah!
5) Our salvation will be revealed in the last time.
As we walk through this life by faith we are looking forward to the blessed living hope, our inheritance reserved for us. Why do we do this? Because we have eternity in our hearts, we are not meant to stay here, we are pilgrims, sojourners heading for our heavenly home. In the last time God will literally remove the veil to expose that which was previously hidden... our great salvation. It will not be just a living hope anymore but a glorious reality. We will no longer vaguely see Him but we will see Him face to face! We will take hold of that which has been reserved in heaven for us - our imperishable inheritance!
Maranatha - Lord Come Quickly!
Oh Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed by the glories of Your word! So little can I comprehend and how great that little bit is! Help me Lord to continually live in the reality of this great salvation You have given to me. Enable me to understand Your word and apply it to my life in such a way that I become more and more like You. Thank You, thank You for the cross and the living hope it gives. Amen.
"to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
"who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
I Peter 1: 3-5
Recently I have been working my way through I Peter, trying to really dig in and grow in my understanding of what it is God wants me to learn from it. I sat down, prayed then broke down the above verses as best I could using a Greek Word Study New Testament (please keep in mind that I am no Greek scholar). After having read and reread the passage several times here is what I observed about our great salvation from this passage of scripture:
1) We have been born again according to God's great mercy.
It is by His grace and mercy alone that we can stand before a holy God because we are clothed in Christ's righteousness. God has shown great compassion on those who are born again as we see in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2) We have been born again to a LIVING hope.
Our hope is not vain, dead, or wasted... our hope is a living hope, a vivifying (life giving) hope. That life comes through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. "Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness!" (Hymn: The Solid Rock by Edward Mote)
3) We have been born again to an inheritance which is:
~~imperishable- cannot be corrupted
~~undefiled- cannot be soiled or debased
~~will not decay- unfading as in in cannot ever wear out
~~reserved in heaven-kept, watched over
Our inheritance is not one that can be lost, stolen, squandered, eaten by moths or burned by fire.
It is like nothing on earth, it is eternal, perfect, it's beauty will never fade! It cannot be corrupted, soiled or debased... isn't that wonderful? God has reserved it in heaven FOR YOU. Wow!
4) We are protected by the power of God through faith.
The word protected in this verse has the imagery of a person mounting guard as sentinel, it is being watched in advance, it is completed safe. Why is it safe? Because it is protected by the power of God Almighty- the wind and the waves obey His voice, He spoke the universe into place, He calls all the stars by name, He is God of very God (Psalm 104)! HE is the one who protects those who have placed their faith in Him. Hallelujah!
5) Our salvation will be revealed in the last time.
As we walk through this life by faith we are looking forward to the blessed living hope, our inheritance reserved for us. Why do we do this? Because we have eternity in our hearts, we are not meant to stay here, we are pilgrims, sojourners heading for our heavenly home. In the last time God will literally remove the veil to expose that which was previously hidden... our great salvation. It will not be just a living hope anymore but a glorious reality. We will no longer vaguely see Him but we will see Him face to face! We will take hold of that which has been reserved in heaven for us - our imperishable inheritance!
Maranatha - Lord Come Quickly!
Oh Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed by the glories of Your word! So little can I comprehend and how great that little bit is! Help me Lord to continually live in the reality of this great salvation You have given to me. Enable me to understand Your word and apply it to my life in such a way that I become more and more like You. Thank You, thank You for the cross and the living hope it gives. Amen.
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