August 4, 2020

For the next 13 days we will be spending time together walking through the book of Hebrews! Hebrews is written to Jewish Christians who were undergoing persecution for their faith and considering running back to Judaism. The author of Hebrews takes an in-depth look at the practices and regulations of the Old Testament as articulated in the Torah and argues for how Jesus is both superior to each of them and supreme over all of them! The author also warns his audience of the grave danger facing them should they choose to now reject Jesus and return to their former way of life. These warnings can and should make us feel uncomfortable as we read through the book together; allow the Spirit to do what He wants to do in your heart through them! Overall, the message of Hebrews is that Jesus, the Son of God as well as our Savior and Messiah, is infinitely superior to anything or anyone else we could give our lives to, and He is worthy of all our devotion and worship. Jesus is greater!

This chapter begins with the continuation of the warning which the author began in chapter 5. Putting aside for just a moment the way that the rest of Scripture colors how we interpret this passage, the warning in verses 4-8 should make us feel uncomfortable, even scare us a bit. The author is warning his audience that for those who participate in the community life of the church, seeing God’s power at work, who seem to be Christians but then fall away from the faith, there is no chance for repentance. He says that such people are essentially re-crucifying Jesus, once more putting Him to open shame and humiliation, and for such people it is impossible to be restored to repentance.

The assumption is, of course, that genuine believers will not fall away from the faith. But that shouldn’t keep us from taking this warning really seriously; the person the author is describing looks basically identical to a genuine believer from the outside. If hearing the truth of the gospel, seeing the Holy Spirit move, and witnessing true instruction from God’s Word as well as God’s mighty power demonstrated is not enough to bring about true, heart-level repentance in a person, then nothing will. A person can seem to be one of God’s children by all outward measures, but the true test is whether or not they persevere in the faith until the end!

The author then reassures his audience that he does not believe them to be people like this, having seen the fruit of their good works, and encourages them to hold onto their hope until the end as well as to imitate those who “through faith and patience inherited the promises” (v.12). The immediate example the author gives of this type of patient faith is Abraham, who waited to receive the promise of a son from God and then finally did receive it! We are to imitate this kind of faith and endurance as we await the fulfillment of all God has promised us in Christ. 

All of this, says the author, encourages us to “hold fast to the hope set before us” (v.18). This hope which is set before us is Christ Jesus Himself, who has gone behind the Temple’s inner curtain as our high priest in order to give us access to the Father! The hope which is in Christ acts as an “anchor for the soul” (v.19), granting us stability and steadfastness as we hold to it. As we hold fast to our hope in Christ, we can rest assured that this hope will never let us down, that as long as He is our anchor we will not be moved!

Hebrews 6

6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 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, 18 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. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Family Discussion Question:

  • Take a considerable look at your life and at your heart. How might the warning of verses 4-8 urge you to live more faithfully and to hold more tightly to the hope which you have in Jesus? How does this hope act as an anchor for our souls?

11 thoughts on “Daily Devotional-August 4”

  1. Dear Heavenly Father,
    When I truly search my life and my heart ,I see all of the ways You have blessed me. I was born into a loving Christian family which laid the foundation for righteous living. Although many parts of my life have been filled with sadness and heartache, I have been able to withstand it all because of Your steadfast love. Thank You for loving me and always providing a way through all of the darkness. I will never give up or lose the faith. You are my rock, my Savior and my all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

    1. Dear Father God, Thank you for waking me up today, thank you for the wonderful life you gave us and it’s up to us how we can make it worthy and how we can make you proud. I lift my hands to you and praise your precious holy name. Please help me to be a better person and make me a strong Christian everyday and knowledgeable to share and spread your words to others. Father God forgive me from my sins and my wrong doings. You are my Lord and Savior, I trust in You. Thank you for everything.I love you Jesus!

  2. Father, you are good all the time. This morning, I lift my hands to you and praise your holy name. What are you plans for my life, today and beyond? May I strive to grow in wisdom and knowledge of you and your will. I am able to come into the throne room by and through your son Jesus. Fill me anew and afresh with your Holy Spirit. Enable me to fight the good fight. Now, let’s be going to find one more to add to his Book of Life. Amen.

    1. Amen, Terry. I look forward to reading your words with the Father each day. You always ask the Father “now let’s be going and find one more to add to the Book of Life.” What reassurance every day to know there are those out there whose purpose is to win souls to the Father. The children and I laid our precious Ernest to rest yesterday. His soul is with Jesus. Knowing this helps me handle this lonely feeling since he is gone. It is so quiet in this house. He was such a huge presence in our lives. Thank you, Jesus, for letting me love Ernest 57 years.

  4. Heavenly Father,
    Thank you for choosing me before I ever chose you. Thank you for instilling in me your word, giving me unconditional love and saving grace every time I have fallen you have always been there for me. Thank you for giving me unshakable faith and increasing my faith when I don’t feel like I have enough faith. You are a wonderful Father and an on time God. Thank you for continuing to take care of me and allowing me to see your hand move in my life and this world. Thank you for using me to share the gospel with others and continue to do the will of the Father. I humbly thank you for my many blessings. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.

  6. The promise is comforting to me…I used to wonder if I could measure up, but it is not about that. God’s prayers and character are what completes the transaction. When I accept Jesus in my heart, and seek Him, He fulfills His promise. He also gives me peace about this. The Holy Spirit calms me and pushes away my doubt and rights my understanding.

    Thank You Lord❤??

    1. AMEN and HALLELUJAh!!! I want to mature as I walk in my Christian faith and life. I am so blessed that you woke me up today. You have given me so many blessings. You have given me a new life as a Christian and as your child. You are so wonderful. I need you in my life every day. When I need you, you are there. I have been baptized in your love. In Jesus name I pray Amen ???

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