SPIRITUAL
DIARY
Date: 03-01-03
My
Worship Time Focus: Speaking of
Better Things
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Hebrews 6:9
1.
Message of the verse:
“But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and
things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.” (NASB)
“Dear friends, even though we are talking like this, we really don’t
believe that it applies to you. We are
confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with
salvation.” (NLT)
Those that
think that the writer has been speaking to no-believers say that at this point
he changes his focus to speak to believers.
I do not think that is the case as I have explained in the previous
verses. It seems to me that because of
the “very tough love” that the writer has been forced to write about that he
now comes to a point where his writing to them does not have to be so severe
and you can tell that by the way he uses the word beloved. The word is agapetos
ag-ap-ay-tos' in the Greek and has to be related to agape, the Greek word for
God’s love. The writer is encouraging
them to grow in their walk with the Lord and to move on to the “things that
accompany salvation.” He is saying that
they need to move on from their state of stannic walk with the Lord and move on
to maturity. He is being gentle to them,
I believe, because of them wanting to go back into Judaism and he does not want
this to happen to them.
2. Spiritual meaning for my life today: As a believer in Jesus Christ and one that is
encouraged to take spiritual things seriously, I need to remember that because
I know something that is true when it relates to the Word of God, I still need
to be gentle with those that I deal with when giving out this truth. It takes more than knowing the Word of God,
for the Pharisees knew the Word, but they did not react to people the way that
they should have. This verse shows the
gentleness of the writer as he writes to them, and you can see that he is
looking out for their best interest, and that if for them to go on to maturity
in the Lord.
The Word of God has been refreshing to me as I read it this
morning and it also has brought forth the challenge to be gentle to those
around me. Humility has been brought up
in this passage, not thinking less of myself, but thinking of myself less.
My
Steps of Faith Today: It
will be a challenge for me to wait upon the Lord for direction as our group
deals with John and the problems that he brings into this group. I am thankful for the older members that we
have in Wade and Paul to help us deal with this situation.
Memory verses for the week:
Psalm 40:1,2
I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and
heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the
miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
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