The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Hebrews 5-8
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 4: Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom
Background Information: Hebrews 5-8
What kind of father would want his children to live never knowing for sure if they were loved and accepted by him? Even a good earthly father wants his children to be secure in their relationship; how much more so our heavenly Father. At the same time, it is not kindness to communicate a false sense of security to someone who is in grave danger. To those who fret and worry whether God loves and accepts them, they need only to rest in Christ. If they are trusting in him alone for their salvation, then they are secure; nothing can take them from their Father’s hand. To those who walk in persistent disobedience and who have turned their backs on God, there is no security for them. To live in rebellion against God and yet to presume on the mercy of God is not faith; it is folly. There is security for the believer but not for the unbeliever. Belief is evident in action and in persistent faith, not in merely saying some words. Hebrews gives a stern warning to make sure that no one falls away and then immediately gives a vote of confidence to those who have actually been born again. The warning against falling away doesn’t apply to those who have been saved; they will persist to the end. If you are worried about losing your relationship with God, you probably don’t need to worry. The one who should be worried probably isn’t. The doctrine of the security of the believer is good news for the believer, but there is no security for the unbeliever. Instead of fretting over your status with God, you need only trust Christ today, every day. If your sins have made you insecure in your relationship with Christ, repent of them and enter back into the security of his rest. Increasing security in Christ is an outcome of increasing maturity in Christ. We must grow up in our faith, not leaving behind the basics of our faith but building on them as a foundation. To build on the basics is not merely to know more theological facts; it is to live your life in line with the truth of the gospel. We build on the basics by obeying God’s word, by making it a part of our everyday lives. As we obey, we will experience Christ. As we experience him, we will become more mature. As we become more mature, we will become more secure.
“The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
John 14:21
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Persian religious and government leaders-that they would repent, turn from their wicked ways, and submit to the true King.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.