Faith and Patience
Followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12)
Heb. 6:1-15, 12:2; I Pet. 2:21; Eccl. 7:8; James 1:4, 2:5
What Is God Saying?
This passage contains warning and encouragement. Apostasy or falling away is serious business. It can have irreversible consequences. The passage does not deal with Christians who, through weakness or discouragement, may stumble and hurt themselves and/or others. Given repentance and, where indicated, restitution, forgiveness is the sweet gift of God. It brings joy to Angels in Heaven and peace to our hearts. Hear Jesus' words to the woman who stumbled, "Neither do I condemn you; go and do not sin again." (John 8·11) The fearful warning about apostasy here concerns a deliberate and final rejection of Christ. The same finality comes to someone who rejects rescue efforts by cutting the rope offered.
To counter this mood of apostasy with its dire consequences, the writer of the Hebrews moves the spotlight over from a scenario of doubt and defiance to faith and patience. Don't give up. Don't give in. Follow those who have blazed the path. They did it through faith and patience. The dark background painted in Heb. 6:1-8 is relieved and superseded by the "better things" of verses 9-20. Unless a person contemplates total and final rejection of Jesus Christ, his attention is better drawn to faith, patience, and God's great faithfulness. Keep "the full assurance of hope to the end." (6:11)
How Does This Apply To Us?
The keyword in this passage is "followers." We all follow something or someone. Even the individualist has a role model somewhere along way. He may be following another independent thinker, but he is following. He is using an example. We follow the example of those who have kept the faith to the end. Jesus is our supreme example. Following Him, we will not wind up in a swamp of lost hopes and vanished dreams. Following Him, we are led by the true Light through life's perplexities to heaven's glory. Abraham's faith is another example to follow. And there are those whose names are written not in the Bible but on our hearts. Since we all follow something or someone, let us follow those who "through faith and patience, inherit the promises." If we choose to follow a winner, we will be near the victor's circle. If we follow Christ, we will be in the victor's circle.
Pray With Me
O loving Redeemer, You saw eternal victory beyond the Cross. You endured the shame because you knew it was the Father's will and our only way to heaven.
• Through faith and patience, in the face of the worst, you believe in the best.
• Through faith and patience, you inherited the promise.
• Through faith and patience, you accepted humiliation to be exalted.
• Through faith and patience, You gave Your life and received a name above every name.
Following You, Lord, there are many believers who, with the faith and patience which Your grace supplies, have served You in their hour of opportunity. I would follow you, and I would follow them. I am not ashamed to be a follower, for to follow You and those who follow You is to find the way that leads to everlasting life. It is not a token of ignorance or servility. It is the wisest decision anyone can ever make.
I thank You, Lord, for this discovery. To inherit the promises, I must have faith and patience. Believing is easy, but waiting is hard. Hoping is natural, but enduring is a discipline. Looking up is pleasant, but walking on is painful. Help me believe that there is the fulfillment of all Your promises over the steepest hill after the most disciplined duty, and at the end of the longest journey.
Lord, I ask for more of Your patience. I do not have it naturally. It can only come as your gift. In faith, I pray for patience. In patience, I would show my faith. These are the gifts I need and want to claim faith to accept and patience to endure until the promises of Your love become the real blessings of my life.
Through Jesus Christ, whose own faith and patience are my heart's most shining goal. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Prayer is the place where choices are made. Talking with God, we can choose whom to follow. Prayer is where tarnish is removed from our shining goals and God's promises are seen in their true light. Prayer is the place and the time when the seed of faith grows into the plant of patience, and both come to bear the fruit of inherited promises.
