Hebrews 6 (4)

Introduction
Having admonished his readers about the dangers of failing to press on to maturity, the writer now turns to encourage and exhort them to perseverance. They cannot expect to be mature overnight. Maturity in Christ comes from having the right focus and living patiently by faith. We must seek the Lord and His rest, and not the temporary rest we seek from the tribulations that come with living in Christ’s Kingdom.

Read Jeremiah 29.11-13.

Read Hebrews 6.9-12.

Think it through.
1.  The writer says he was confident of “better things” from his readers. Better than what? These “better things” are the things “that accompany salvation.” What does this suggest about the things he’s been writing about so far in this chapter (vv. 1-8)? Those who fall away from such things do not fall from salvation, but from merely tastingthe Lord’s gifts. Those to whom the “better things” apply are truly saved, and cannot fall from grace, since grace is God’s work in their lives. What evidence of that grace and those “better things” does the writer point to in them to indicate that his readers are among those who are truly saved (v. 10)? How did he hope this would encourage them?

2.  But we don’t live in the past, and we do not rest on our laurels, but in the rest God is preparing for us day by day. Thus, what must they do who are truly saved so that they might enter that rest (v. 11)? What does that involve? The opposite of being diligent is to be “sluggish.” What does one look like who has become sluggish? We want to “inherit the promises.” What promises? Are these promises the same as God’s rest? What do “faith and patience” require of us as we focus on those promises and “show the same diligence” as those who are truly saved?

Meditate.
“‘We desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end. Hope, he means, carries us through. It recovers us again. So do not despair, lest your hope be in vain. For one that works for good hopes also for good and never despairs of himself.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14.21, 22

There will always be troubles, trials, temptations, and testings, Lord. This I know. So I pray that you will help me today to…

Pray Psalm 127.
As you pray, ask God to prepare you for the trials and challenges you will face today in building your house for His glory.

Psalm 127.1-5 (Leominster: Not What My Hands Have Done)
Unless God builds the house, the workers toil in vain; 
unless He watches o’er us all, the watchmen have no gain.
In vain we early rise, and late retire to rest, 
for God gives precious, needed sleep to those He loves the best.

All children are a gift and treasure from the Lord, 
a token of His constant grace, the fruitful womb’s reward.
Like arrows in our hand, the children of our youth
we, trusting Jesus, shape and send to bear the Word of truth.

The blessings of the Lord on fruitful families rest.
Both friend and foe alike shall know that they by God are blessed.
Praise God, Who builds the house, and watches o’er us all, 
and grants relief and fruitful wombs to all who on Him call.

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.