spiritual dehydration

A field is useful to farmers, if there is enough rain to make good crops grow. In fact, God will bless that field. But land that produces only thornbushes is worthless. [Hebrews 6:7-8 CEV]

Dehydration is deadly. Everything needs water to live. In a spiritual sense water is representative of God's Spirit living deep within us. Jesus puts it this way: "If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you".

The process of spiritual hydration begins when one is spiritually born and infilled with the Holy Spirit. The cycle continues each time we come to Christ in prayer. We hear his voice and receive life-giving water. He hydrates in many ways. As we serve him our inner beings are filled.

The image of a garden paints such a beautiful picture of spiritual life. Thorns and weeds can choke out healthy crops if we are not diligent to uproot them. Likewise the good soil of our new hearts need to be cared for each day. It is a cooperative effort between us and the Giver of spiritual rain.

My heart is open Lord. Send your rain to hydrate me that I might water the world.

... this devotion is part of a series about the book of Hebrews.
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those who were once enlightened

    it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened ...
    and who then turn away from God. [Hebrews 6:4,6 NLT]

This is one of the most difficult and controversial passages in the New Testament. Many theologians have wrestled with it and disagree with the interpretation and application of it.

In my view the passage should be interpreted in light of the previous chapters that speak about the Israeli exodus from Egypt. People in that era are similar to ones in the church today.

The issue is basically the difference between repenting with your mind and your heart. Many today mentally assent to Christian beliefs yet have never had a transformation of their heart.

These appear to be believers. They often talk the talk and walk the walk. Yet these have never known God at a heart level. Consequentially they fall away as those in the wilderness did.

Thank you Lord that what is impossible with us is possible with you.

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

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. [Hebrews 6:1 NLT]

What are the 'basic teachings' referred to in this verse? The writer proceeds to tell us that they include repentance, infilling of the Spirit, faith, baptism, resurrection and judgment. In essence this verse tells us that maturity is not about rehashing theology but putting learned theology into practice.

In psychology, the four stages of competence relates to the psychological states involved in the process of progressing from incompetence to competence in a skill. The stages are: Unconscious Incompetence; Conscious Incompetence; Conscious Competence and Unconscious Competence.

Conscious Competence is a good descriptor of the basic teaching phase. Here one first learns of kingdom principles. They have head knowledge. As one puts these principles into action a process of transformation takes place. Conscious Competence become Unconscious Competence.

This stage of Spiritual Unconscious Competence is marked by not having to be told to love. One loves instinctively because they have been transformed by years of practice. What was once in their head has journeyed to their heart. They have become mature in their understanding.

Help us Dear Lord. To practice love that we might love instinctively and unconsciously.

... this devotion is part of a series about the book of Hebrews.
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learning through practice

No one who lives on milk alone can know the ins and outs of what it means to be righteous and pursue justice; that’s because he is only a baby. But solid food is for those who have come of age, for those who have learned through practice to distinguish good from evil. [Hebrews 5:13-14 VOICE]

The phrase "coming of age" reminds me of the Jewish rite of "Bar Mitzvah" or "Confirmation", it's Christian counterpart. In each rite a transition from childhood to adulthood is celebrated.

This seems to be the sense that the writer is communicating. Yet I think that example breaks down in that spiritual maturity, by nature, continues to progress well in to adulthood.

I love the words "ins and outs" and "learned through practice" used in this translation. Spiritual maturity is all about the ins and outs. About what we practice on a daily basis.

Our spiritual journeys are all about learning to distinguish the good practices that mature us from the bad ones that keep us from growing. As we do, we spiritually come of age.

We need you Lord. To discover the ins and outs of the kingdom. And to practice faith each day.

... this devotion is part of a series about the book of Hebrews.
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made complete by suffering

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him [Hebrews 5:8-9 NIV]

It is one thing to say we love God in the good times. Easy to love when we are not offended. Easy to obey when the road is smooth. In times such as these we really do not need faith.

Yet in times of suffering ... when life is reeling out of control ... in moments of anger, desperation an hopelessness ... faith is needed. In such times we have opportunities to spiritually mature.

Dark times can produce in us a depth of spiritual character than cannot be found in easy times. These moments give us opportunities to perfect our faith. And become more like God.

As the song says, we ask you Lord for: More Love. More Power. More of You in our lives.

... this devotion is part of a series about the book of Hebrews.
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prayers heard but unanswered

     During the time Jesus lived on earth, He prayed and asked God with loud cries and tears.
     Jesus’ prayer was to God Who was able to save Him from death.
     God heard Christ because Christ honored God. [Hebrews 5:7 NLV]

Jesus was fully human. He cried. He wept. On the eve of his crucifixion he prayed in a garden with much sorrow and a heavy heart. He asked the Father to rescue him from the fate that was before him. As he prayed, he surrendered his life to God saying not what I want but what You want.

As I read about Jesus' prayers in the garden I am better able to understand that God hears our prayers even when he does not answer them. It helps me to know that Jesus struggled as he prayed. And in the end he honored God by releasing his desires and asking for God's will to be done.

We bend our knees and our hearts afresh to the One who hears us. Thy will be done.

... this devotion is part of a series about the book of Hebrews.
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a priest like Melchizedek

And in another Scripture God says,“You are a priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek.” [Hebrews 5:6]

A few thoughts about Melchizedek: 1) he was a king and a priest; 2) Abraham was his contemporary and recognized him with a tithe; 3) as such his title preceded Jewish priests and Levites.

Some have speculated that he was, based on verses like this, a preincarnate appearance of Christ. Not sure if that is true but I do believe that the verse teaches us a few things about the Messiah. It tells us that Jesus' priesthood is eternal and supersedes all earthly religious titles.

The verse also teaches us that Christ is more than a priest. Like Melchizedek, the Messiah is a king. Unlike Melchizedek his reign is not limited by time or space. As John tells us, he is King of kings and Lord of lords. John also tells us that his kingdom is filled with priests.

Lord help us to live lives that point others to the One who is called a priest forever.

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