Today we begin worship with:
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
At the core of these verses are two contrasting words earnest(spoudē) and sluggish(nōthros). One is earnest when one applies faith(pistis) and patience(makrothymia) to reach the destination. One is sluggish if you attempt to avoid the effort because there is doubt of success or concern that success would take too much effort.
For as one gets older or if one has a mobility issue, if you have already walked a great distance, the conversation occurs whether walking on is worth it.
But these verses speak of promises that are inherited (klēronomeō) not achieved. Our faith is in the effort already exerted by Christ. Our patience must simply wait for an end that should not be hurried. And our earnestness should be about the command to love each of those you meet along the way (Hebrews 6:10).
No comments:
Post a Comment