Tag: Hebrews 6
Our Hope is like an Anchor
Scripture reading for October 21: Hebrews 6
“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:17-20
God is not a man that He should lie. (Numbers 23:19) God’s Word is Truth. (John 17:17) What He has said, He will do. God told Jeremiah that He was watching over His Word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12) God made the promises of His Word and His guarantee was Who He was. But God also swore by an oath to keep His Word. These two truths are by God’s design to give us strong encouragement and hope. Hope is the expectation of good things promised. When God promises and swears by Himself to bless His people, we simply say ‘amen’ and patiently wait for the promise to be fulfilled.
Biblical ‘hope’ is not a conditional thing like we use the word in our culture. Biblical hope is confidence inspired by faith in the One Who makes the promises. Our confidence is not in our ability to make the promise happen but that God will fulfill His promises fully and completely. The writer of Hebrews likens this ‘hope’ to the anchor of a ship. If the anchor is attached to something strong, the ship will stay where it is anchored. As believers, our anchor of biblical hope is attached to the very throne of God where Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is seated to hear our cries and prayers and answer. He is there on our behalf and is our “Guarantee” by His eternal priesthood of the order of Melchizedek.
Has anyone ever made you a promise that they did not keep? Do you find yourself doubting the promises God has made of forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life adoption into God’s family? Would you say that you have found the hope in Jesus spoken of that is an anchor for your soul?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving me biblical hope as an anchor for my soul in these troubling times. Your Word anchors me in truth. I believe Your promises and await my inheritance. I cry out to Jesus Christ, my High Priest when temptations or troubles come threating my peace. Amen!
Don’t become lazy!
Scripture reading for October 20th: Hebrews 6
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Hebrews 6:10-12 “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. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
The writer of Hebrews reminds us of God’s promise to reward His faithful people with an eternal inheritance in His presence. The Hebrew believers had been a blessing to God’s people and were showing God’s love through faithful service. They were commended for this but also reminded not to become lazy in their service of their Lord. Perseverance in faith and patience would be required to actually receive this inheritance.
Observations for over-comers: Our flesh tends towards laziness and distractions from sincerely serving Jesus and His body the church. We must guard against laziness by maintaining active faith and perseverance. “Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.” (Proverbs 19:15)
Jesus: Anchor for Our Soul!
Scripture reading for October 21st: Hebrews 6
The writer of Hebrews wrote to warn the believers of the danger of apostasy. There was pressure from persecution and the suffering of trials that tempted them to leave Jesus Christ and return to their old way of Judaism. Although we are secure in Christ and His promises, we must maintain our steadfast faith through the trials.
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.” (Hebrews 6:4-6) These are difficult words of warning! Believers are being warned that falling away from faith in Christ and life in the power of the Holy Spirit will result in an impossible situation and reproach for the cause of Christ. Renewal to repentance will not be available! This is something to avoid at all costs!
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” . . . “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:12, 17-20) Don’t ‘fall away’ but ‘anchor away’–into Jesus Christ!