Move forward in faith and patience

Move forward in faith and patience

S -  Hebrews  6:1-12 (NIV)
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.

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[c] 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.

O - Paul continues here in Hebrews to give words of truth and words of encouragement to believers about their faith in Christ, and salvation they have received.  He cautions them about leaning backwards on old foundations in the Hebrew faith, but rather move forward in their walk with Christ, not to become stagnant or backsliding. Paul's has that gift to both correct and encourage those he speaks to, not to tear down and discourage.  During this early time in the church you can imagine the trials along the way as they learn to lead an live in Christ's church.   These early corrections where so neccessary so that things won't follow the same pattern with God's people as it had in the past, and is true even to today.   Often times God's people would come to repentance after correction, only to find themselves years or generations later farther from God and his ways.  The path with Christ is different because we now have a high priest who once and for all reconcilled our sins, and forever intercedes for us.  The tension lies in that though our salvation is assurred through Christ, we are not called to sit idly by and but participate in what God is doing while waiting on the full promises and prophesies of God, but are called to be moving forward to the promises.

A - The application for me is to see that I must continue to always look forward in my faith, pressing toward a growing maturity.   I must not rest on foundations of my past, but continue to grow in understanding and maturity in the ways of Christ.   My walk with Christ started off as a sprint, as I eagerly sought to run toward Christ and these new ways of living.   In this stage of my walk with Christ, I see it more as a marathon, one in which I must realize  I need to stay encouraged and keep moving forward, to stop moving forward would only cause me to cramp up, or even worse decide never again to start running.   So this word for me is an encouragement and exhortation to, through faith and patience, continue to move forward in growing in knowledge and experience of who Christ is.  I must stay committed to growing through prayer, study of His word, and practicing my faith daily with those He places before me.

P - Dear heavnely Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart, so that I may continue to walk forward in your truth.   I pray Lord for encouragement and guidance from the Holy spirit to reveal new truths and revive a fresh spirit in me.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.