Tag diligence

Lest we DRIFT away, Heb 2:1-3

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Avoiding Spiritual DRIFT

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Heb 2:1-3a ASV)

In the swiftly changing currents of life, it is all too easy to drift away from the secure anchor of hope, “which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil” (Heb 6:19).

Let us explore five guiding principles from the book of Hebrews that can help us avoid spiritual drift and ensure our steadfastness in the faith.

DILIGENCE.

The first one is found in Hebrews 6:11, “And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end.”

Think of diligence as the steady hand guiding the helm of a ship through treacherous waters. It is not enough to start well; we must persist, with our eyes fixed on the horizon of God’s promises.

Hebrews 4:11 exhorts us, “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” The necessity of constant effort to avoid spiritual shipwreck is a recurring theme (Hebrews 10:22; 12:1). Are we laboring earnestly, or merely drifting along?

READ & STUDY.

Reading and studying the Bible is the second way we will be able to remain on course, avoiding drift. The writer reminds us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword” (Heb 4:12). To avoid drift we must become skilled in the word. Hebrews 5:12-6:8 reveals the peril of spiritual immaturity and the dire consequences of neglecting the deeper teachings of Christ. Is our Bible a well-worn map or an unused artifact?

IMITATE THE FAITHFUL.

Another aid in avoiding drift is imitation which calls us to follow the examples of those who have walked the path of faith before us. Hebrews 6:12 instructs us to be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” We should emulate the faithful who have demonstrated unwavering trust in God. Consider the heroes of faith outlined in Hebrews 11. Their lives serve as beacons, illuminating the way for us to follow. By imitating their faith and perseverance, we reinforce our commitment to Christ. Whose shipping lane are we following today? (1Cor 11:1; 3John 11)

FEAR GOD.

A healthy reverence for God is the fourth in our efforts to maintain our spiritual course. Hebrews 4:1 warns, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Godly fear keeps us vigilant. It reminds us of the gravity of our salvation and the importance of living in a manner worthy of our calling. Does our reverence for God inspire vigilance or apathy?

TAKE HEED.

Finally, we ought to take heed. Taking heed requires self-awareness and caution. Hebrews 3:12 cautions, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” The vigilance of the watchman who stands in the crow’s nest of the ship is akin to the spiritual alertness we must maintain to remain on course. By taking heed, we guard against the drift caused by doubt and sin. Are we watchful or wandering?

Let us heed the wisdom of Hebrews and apply these principles diligently. Through our earnest efforts we anchor our souls firmly in Christ, avoiding the perilous drift that leads away from so great a salvation.

Agape,

Spencer

2Peter chpt 1; Purpose of the Book

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“I must put off my tent.”

As Jesus showed me.

John 21:15-19.

“Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” 1:15.

What would you say to your children before you die?

Peter wants to…

the saints to give all Diligence to add to our faith for an Entrance into the Everlasting kingdom. And to Avoid false teachers. The Lord will come as a Thief and Heat will follow.

4 Wise Creatures Pt1/4 the ANTS

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Wise Little Creatures pt1/4

ANTS

God uses nature to teach spiritual lessons. “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.” (Job 12:7).

In Proverbs 30 there are several lessons being taught using nature. This article and the next 3 will look at “four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise.”

(Prov 30:24-28)

The first little creature in the text are the ANTS (25; cf. Prov 6:6-11).

“The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;”

The ANTS are among 4 little creatures that are called exceedingly wise. What makes that so? Here are at least 4 lessons from the ANTS.

ANTS are ALL in ALL the time. Not only do they gather enough for their current needs, they also gather for the coming winter. “Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” (Prov 6:8)

What are the lessons for us? There are two types of lessons, physical and spiritual. First the physical lesson; We ought to be working while we can and while we’re able more than our present needs. The scriptures point out a few physical needs. 1) Needs of others. “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (Eph 4:28; cf. Ac 20:35; 1Th 4:11) and 2) Needs of our family when we can no longer work, the winter of life. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1Tim 5:8-16). The spiritual lesson is in the third point.

The second lesson from the ANTS is that they NEVER give up. If you try to block the way of a line of ants, they will climb over, go around, he’ll go under, or move whatever is blocking them. They NEVER quit. That’s a great lesson for us. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,” (Eph 5:15). They press on, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14). They fight the good fight, they run and they strive for their purpose.

A third lesson from the ANTS is they THINK ahead in the summer. (I don’t know what an ant thinks, but the proverb tells us what they do) “…they prepare their meat in the summer;” “Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” (Prov 30:25; 6:8)

The spiritual application is what’s important. Man doesn’t live forever on the earth and must make arrangements for eternal life. We can’t be so naïve as to believe that summer lasts forever, neither does our physical life. The Hebrew writer wrote, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb 9:27). Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;” (2Cor 5:10-11). The wisdom from the ANTS instructs us to be reconciled to God through obeying the gospel of Christ before it’s too late. (cf. Heb 5:9; 2Thess 1:8-9).

The fourth lesson from the ANTS is they START immediately. On the first warm day of spring, they’re out working. At the first opportunity, the ANTS go marching on to find their food. The proverb writers contrasts those that slumber too much with the diligent effort of the ANTS. “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” (Prov 6:9). In the NT, sleep is a metaphor for those that are dead spiritually (1Cor 11:30) and for those that aren’t watching (1Th 5:6). “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Rom 13:11).

You can easily tell which denominations believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation; THEY SCHEDULE BAPTISMS. That is completely opposite to what the scriptures teach. “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.” (Acts 16:33). The Eunuch, upon hearing about Jesus asked, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” When your ‘pastor’ teaches about salvation, will his hearers have the same response as the Eunuch? The lesson of the ANTS is that they START immediately. When is the best time to obey the gospel? TODAY! “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2Cor 6:2).