Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Jesus Christ who Restores
Hebrews.6:9-12
Don’t be discouraged, continue in faith
1. The writer admits he is a little harsher than he needs to be. (v9)
a. We are confident of better things concerning you: Though he spoke so severely, the writer to the Hebrews was confident His readers would continue with Jesus. He thinks of their continuation in the faith as one of the things that accompany salvation.
b. Though we speak in this manner: These encouraging words after the strong warning of Hebrews 6:4-8 should not be understood to mean that the warnings in the previous verses are not serious, or that the writer warned of impossible consequences. If anything, verse nine shows how badly these struggling Christians needed encouragement. Their spiritual danger was not so much out of a calculated rebellion, but more because of a depressing discouragement. They need warning, but also needed encouragement.
2. Don’t be discouraged because God hasn’t forgotten about you. (V10-12)
a. God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love: When we are discouraged, we sometimes think God forgets us and all we have done for Him and for His people. But God would deny His own nature if He forgot such things (He would be unjust). God sees and remembers.
Sometimes our fear that God forgot our work and labor of love comes from relying on the attention and applause of people. It is true that some people may forget your work and labor of love, but God never will.
b. We desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end: The writer to the Hebrews encouraged like a coach, urging believers to press on. The followers of Jesus must keep up their good work; press on with that hope until the end; and imitate those who inherit (not earn) God’s promises. When we fail to do this, discouragement often makes us become sluggish.
c. But imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises: Instead of giving in to discouragement, imitate those who found the key to gaining God’s promises – faith and patience, as demonstrated by Abraham. We are grateful to remember Abraham’s life and to see that he did not have a perfect faith or a perfect patience. If Abraham had some of our weakness, then we can have some of his faith and patience.
d. Do not become sluggish: The idea is that we should not let discouragement make us sluggish, leading to the sense that we may as well give up. First, we lose the desire to press on; then we lose the desire to go on.
Before he was king, David showed a great answer to discouragement: David encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6, KJV). It is a blessing when others encourage us, but we don’t have to wait for that. We can encourage our self in the Lord.
Don’t be discouraged, continue in faith
1. The writer admits he is a little harsher than he needs to be. (v9)
a. We are confident of better things concerning you: Though he spoke so severely, the writer to the Hebrews was confident His readers would continue with Jesus. He thinks of their continuation in the faith as one of the things that accompany salvation.
b. Though we speak in this manner: These encouraging words after the strong warning of Hebrews 6:4-8 should not be understood to mean that the warnings in the previous verses are not serious, or that the writer warned of impossible consequences. If anything, verse nine shows how badly these struggling Christians needed encouragement. Their spiritual danger was not so much out of a calculated rebellion, but more because of a depressing discouragement. They need warning, but also needed encouragement.
2. Don’t be discouraged because God hasn’t forgotten about you. (V10-12)
a. God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love: When we are discouraged, we sometimes think God forgets us and all we have done for Him and for His people. But God would deny His own nature if He forgot such things (He would be unjust). God sees and remembers.
Sometimes our fear that God forgot our work and labor of love comes from relying on the attention and applause of people. It is true that some people may forget your work and labor of love, but God never will.
b. We desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end: The writer to the Hebrews encouraged like a coach, urging believers to press on. The followers of Jesus must keep up their good work; press on with that hope until the end; and imitate those who inherit (not earn) God’s promises. When we fail to do this, discouragement often makes us become sluggish.
c. But imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises: Instead of giving in to discouragement, imitate those who found the key to gaining God’s promises – faith and patience, as demonstrated by Abraham. We are grateful to remember Abraham’s life and to see that he did not have a perfect faith or a perfect patience. If Abraham had some of our weakness, then we can have some of his faith and patience.
d. Do not become sluggish: The idea is that we should not let discouragement make us sluggish, leading to the sense that we may as well give up. First, we lose the desire to press on; then we lose the desire to go on.
Before he was king, David showed a great answer to discouragement: David encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6, KJV). It is a blessing when others encourage us, but we don’t have to wait for that. We can encourage our self in the Lord.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me not to be discouraged in my prevailing circumstances but like King David find strength in you alone. May not my discouragement make me sluggish causing me to give up. Help me to press on and go on forward in obeying your will. In Jesus name, Amen!!
Thought for the Day
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED!! Move forward in faith by the power of the Spirit in faith & patience serving the Lord Jesus.
Evg Saji Ranny Bangalore, Ebenezer Mar Thoma Church
Heavenly Father, help me not to be discouraged in my prevailing circumstances but like King David find strength in you alone. May not my discouragement make me sluggish causing me to give up. Help me to press on and go on forward in obeying your will. In Jesus name, Amen!!
Thought for the Day
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED!! Move forward in faith by the power of the Spirit in faith & patience serving the Lord Jesus.
Evg Saji Ranny Bangalore, Ebenezer Mar Thoma Church