Hebrews 6: 11-12
Thoughts from Jodi Venhaus
Dive Deeper
“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
Hebrews 6: 11-12
Behind the Scenes
Have you ever prayed for more patience? Have you ever wished that you could have more patience with a certain person, or with a situation, or maybe more patience in general? I have personally found this to be a dangerous prayer. Just as a muscle will only grow with exercise, our patience will only grow if we are placed in situations that require patience. I literally prayed for patience one day and the next morning crept along the highway to work at 10 miles per hour. I give that example with a little tongue in cheek, but the point is true.
In the passage preceding today’s verses, the writer commended the Hebrews to which he is addressing for serving God and loving others. Now the writer encourages them to be diligent in serving God to the very end of their lives. All believers in Christ have a hope. This hope is that Jesus will live within us and walk next to us until the day we die, and then we will live forever in God’s presence. That is fantastic!
But living in the world today is tough. Biblical patience means enduring trials and tribulations, learning from them, and continuing to love God and people through those trials. This requires faith in the power of the almighty God. See, the writer of these verses ties together faith and patience because patience is only possible with faith. Faith that God will be you, faith that God will teach you something through these trials, faith that God is ultimately good, and faith that one day, there will be no more suffering, no more tears, no more sorrow.
Make it Real
So what does this look like in day to day living? The writer of Hebrews gives you a hint. The writer calls the Hebrews, and believers today, to imitate those who have gone before us and have demonstrated this same faith and patience under trials. Look at Chapter 11 of this same book of Hebrews. That chapter lists heroes and heroines of the faith that endured trials while staying loyal to God and exercising this faith and patience. They were not perfect, and they failed at times, but they came to God in faith and He empowered them to persevere with patience. Their lives serve as monuments to God’s faithfulness and power. Remembering them will help strengthen patience in our own lives.
We can do nothing without the power of God. Pray to Him, take your trials big and small to Him, and let Him grow that patience within you. This is a daily and sometimes hourly thing. God is mighty and He loves you. He will never abandon you to your trials.
Now, as I write this, I have had a good day, a good supper and I am sitting in easy chair. It is easy to write about patience. However, when hard times hit, I need brothers and sisters walking beside me to remind of these words and speak truth into my life. Get plugged into groups with other believers. Brothers and sisters in Christ can help you be diligent and maintain your faith and patience. Don’t go it alone.
Patience is not the easiest spiritual trait to develop but with the power and love of Jesus, you too can take your place alongside the people in Chapter 11 who were diligent to the end.
Johnny Spence
ACF Devo Team
End in Prayer
Father, life is not easy. Help me have faith in your might and goodness Lord. Help me have patience under trials and suffering. Help me persevere and continue to serve you and amplify the grace of Jesus to those around me. Help me be patient until that day when we will all be singing with joy in your presence. Thanks for all you have given me, Amen.