Grounds for Growth
Opening Prayer
Gracious and loving God, I wait patiently now for You to speak to me from Your holy Word.
Read Hebrews 6:4-12
[4] It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age [6] and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. [7] Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. [8] But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. [9] Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case-the things that have to do with salvation. [10] God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. [11] We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. [12] We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What danger is this writer warning his readers against?When I was young, there was a period when I thought that if I did something wrong I had to become a Christian all over again–that, in effect, I was hopping in and out of salvation. Obviously, I misunderstood things. That’s not what falling away in v. 6 refers to. Neither does it mean that it’s impossible for believers who have genuine struggles or times of doubt to be restored in their faith. Many, if not all of us, will go through those sorts of things. The author here is talking about someone deliberately cutting themselves off from all that they have known of God and turning away from him. It’s a bit like buying an outfit, enjoying wearing it for a while, and then deciding it doesn’t suit you. The readers of the letter are already showing that this doesn’t apply to them. What they’re doing for God’s people indicates their love for him (10) and, again, they’re being encouraged to keep going. The writer wants them to go on being productive ground rather than a wasteland (7,8), so benefiting others as well as themselves (11).
Apply
Pray that whatever happens to you will help you to produce “a useful crop” that is blessed and used by God.
Closing prayer
Lord, I want my life to be a consistent witness that You are at work in me each day.
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