No Room for Complacency
Opening Prayer
Thank You Lord, that I am united with Christ. You have hidden me in Yourself and I am fully Yours.
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 THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is the contrast of the two groups?This is a potent passage, and it is possible to either make too much or too little of it. For some it has been a recipe for despair as it seems to talk of the impossibility of returning to Christ after falling away. Others would minimize the warnings to those who abuse the privilege of being “enlightened” (baptized), “tasting” of Holy Communion, and receiving “powers of the coming age” (the Holy Spirit) through the laying on of hands.In the rest of Scripture we see hints of the possibility that people might fall away (e.g. the parable of the sower), but we also see that even the hardest cases have an opportunity to come to repentance (e.g. Simon Magus in Acts 8:22).Here the warning is followed by encouragement (9–12). The Hebrews’ love for their fellow-Christians is evidence of their faith (10). Yet they cannot afford to be complacent. The Christian faith is not a sprint, but an epic journey that requires “diligence to the very end” (11), “faith and patience” (12).
Apply
Standing still is not an option. Do not let laziness and complacency dull you or cause you to fail to “inherit what is promised” (12).
Closing prayer
O God, I want to make it to the end and finish well! Strengthen me and help me.
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