REASONS FOR CONFIDENCE
HEBREWS 6:9-12
HEBREWS 6:9-12 NKJ
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The writer of Hebrews had just laid out some sobering news regarding those who had turned away from the Lord.
Now he is encouraging these believers and confident of better things for them. For the salvation that belonged to them. These believers had ministered, served, and helped other believers. Notice the writer refers to the believers as saints. And God does not forget their efforts. According to God's measuring system, these saints honored His name when they helped their fellow saints.
As the writer continues, his encouragement is to continue to show diligence to God and His kingdom and not give up. He reminds them of the hope, the favorable expectation, that we have in Christ. That hope is a reason to be confident and a reason to stay with their beliefs in Christ.
The last reason for confidence is that through their faith and perseverance, they will inherit the promises of God. His warning is that they not become lazy, sluggish but to keep believing. Keep on keeping on.
APPLICATION
I can hear the urgency in the writer of Hebrews tone. There are reasons for confidence, but he really wants them to step up.
We are not facing the same pressure they faced but these words are as appropriate today as when they were written.
God does not forget what we do for Him by helping and loving His children. I know how I feel when someone is good to my kids, and God is far greater than me.
We have a reason to be confident because of the hope that we have in Christ.
This hope means I don't have to earn God's blessings. I simply have to believe what has been done for me and the promises I have in Christ.
So if I will continue to believe and will not quit, I will inherit what has been given to me. The promises of God are in Jesus, not in my works or perfection. Such good reasons to be confident.
PRAYER
Thank You for Your goodness to me. Thank You, Father, that You do not overlook what I do for You. And that You have made great and precious promises available to me in Christ.