Hebrews 6 (7)

Introduction
After chiding his readers in chapter 5, then warning them in the first part of chapter 6, the writer turns to encouragement, saying he is confident they are truly saved, and urging them to press on toward the hope of rest in the Lord. Taking his own advice seriously, he points his readers to Jesus, exalted and interceding, and calls them to lay hold on the hope that is set before them.

Read Philippians 3.12-16.

Read and Meditate on Hebrews 6.

Think it through.
1.  What are the “elementary principles of Christ,” and what role do they play in the life of faith? What should they produce in one who has more than “tasted” of the Lord’s gift of life and rest? Why was the writer of Hebrews confident that his readers would move on from there to greater maturity in Christ (v. 10)? And how would they know that they were making progress in Him?

2.  Twice before the writer urged his readers to look to Jesus (2.9, 3.1). Here he directs their eye of faith to Jesus, our forerunner, exalted in glory as our great High Priest. As you contemplate this image, how does it appear to you? How can meditating on this vision of Christ exalted help you to exercise more diligence, patience, and faith in following Jesus? How does the hope that awaits us in Jesus serve as “an anchor of the soul”?

Meditate.
“He augmented their confidence with the name forerunner: if he is our forerunner and has gone up for us, we too must follow and be granted ascent” Theodoret of Cyr (393-466 AD)

…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3.18

Thank You, Lord, for being my High Priest. Help me to exercise greater diligence, patience, and faith by…

Pray Psalm 127.
As you pray, focus on Jesus, exalted in glory, and thank Him that He is building His Church, and not even the gates of hell can stand against it (Matt. 16.18). Thank Him for the all the ways He is building His Church through you.

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).