CONFIDENT OF BETTER THINGS

HEBREWS 6:9-12 NKJ 
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

 OBSERVATION:

The author, in the previous verses, had outlined some very serious things about rejecting the Lord. But he expresses confidence in these believers. He is convinced of better things concerning them. Things that point to the reality of their salvation. 

One of the better things was their service to the saints, the other believers. And their service came with an exciting promise. That God would not forget their efforts and labor of love that was shown to Him. This love toward God was seen in their service to others. What these believers did for their brothers and sisters in Christ God took as personal, as a labor of love toward His name. Their acts of love and service were definitely a better thing.   

Another better thing was to show diligence to the end and not become sluggish. The margin of my New King James Bible reads lazy. He did not want these believers becoming inactive but rather being diligent. Diligent means earnestness, urgency, and zeal. Quite the opposite of lazy. And because of the hope they had in Christ, they were not to slack off. Diligence is a better thing.  

The author of Hebrews also wanted these believers to inherit the promises that were theirs in Christ. These promises would become a reality in their lives through the powerful combination of faith and patience. The author of this letter would later devote an entire chapter to the faith of the Jewish heroes who had come before. And without faith, it's impossible to please God. So, we know faith is a better thing.   

And patience, as used here, is to endure patiently instead of losing faith and giving up. It's easy to see why patience is a better thing. We need faith, and we need to stay in faith and not give up. So patience is another better thing.   

APPLICATION: 

Even though the writer of Hebrews has some strong words for these believers, he does have confidence in them. He knows great things took place in them when they received salvation.   

The same applies to us today. We can have confidence in ourselves and other believers because of our common salvation.   

We are still in a growing maturing process, but there are better things in us. We have the capacity to love God by serving others. To be diligent regarding the hope we have in Christ. And the capacity to walk in faith and patience in order to inherit all God has for us.   

PRAYER: 

Thank you, Lord. Because of salvation, there are better things in me.