spiritual gardens


since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings ... let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess ... let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works [Hebrews 10:21-24 NET]


There is a progression in these verses. Faith creates hope which produces love.
  • Sincere heart faith causes us to draw near to God. Any other flavor of faith is not really faith. And as we draw near we are assured that we belong to God.
  • Hope is a lot like assurance. Consequentially this kind of hope does not resemble wishing but is more like confidence in nature. We hope because we know God. 
  • Love is the outward manifestation of an inward reality. As faith and hope are established our focus is turned away from ourselves and onto others in selfless love.
The operative words are "let us". Faith, hope and love are not passive spiritual concepts. These must be fully embraced and worked out in our lives. Like a garden they must be cultivated.

We again commit ourselves to tending the spiritual gardens in our lives Lord.


... this devotion is part of a series from the book of Hebrews.

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