Hebrews – Learning to Out of the Way

Over a span of twenty five years plus, my husband was pastor to three churches that needed to turn around, get focused on the basics tenets of the faith and get on with the work God called us to be and then do. As I read this account in Hebrews that tells us to “Grow up in Christ!” and “…get on with it!”, I am reminded of Randy’s frustration at times when people would focus on the unimportant small details instead of the bigger picture of reaching the world for Christ with love in their hearts for God and each other.

By not listening and hearing…

“I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you’ve picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on g”od again, starting from square one–baby’s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God’s ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.” Hebrews 5, Msg

“So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on ‘salvation by self-help’ and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hand; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there ‘s so much more. Let’s get on with it!” Hebrews 6, Msg

Salvation things…

“Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us–if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can’t start over as if nothing happened. That’s impossible. Why, they’ve re-crucified Jesus!”
Hebrews 6, Msg

STOP! This is a question we have to stop and ask daily. Is my thought life and subsequent behavior re-crucifying my Jesus? Will I get God’s “well done” or will he say, “Depart, for I never knew you”?

The writer encourages us to finish well…

“I’m sure that won’t happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you–salvation things! God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend the same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your fee. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.” Hebrews 6, Msg

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so patient with us. Thank you. Draw us gently but surely back into focus on salvation things and leave behind all that entangles us. Lead us to a “full-bodied hope” with intensity to keep at it. No matter what. Our intention is not to re-crucify you, dear Jesus, but to tell why You were crucified so others will know You, too. Help us, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen