Speaking of Better Things (Heb. 6:9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03-01-03

 

                                                                                                           

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Speaking of Better Things

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 6:9

 

            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 non-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 walking with the Lord in weakness 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.

 

            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.