Daily Bible Reading April 24th, 2020 Hebrews 5:11—6:12 (GNT)

God’s Life-Giving Word of Hope

Introduction

Hebrews 5:11—6:12: Christ’s followers are warned not to turn their backs on God’s message but to be mature in their faith. Those who turn away from the message Jesus brought are like those who “are again crucifying the Son of God” (verse 6).

Today's Scripture: Hebrews 6:10

God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.

Today's Reading

Warning against Abandoning the Faith

11There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. 12 There has been enough time for you to be teachers—yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. 13Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong. 14Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.

1Let us go forward, then, to mature teaching and leave behind us the first lessons of the Christian message. We should not lay again the foundation of turning away from useless works and believing in God; 2of the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; of the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. 3Let us go forward! And this is what we will do, if God allows.

4For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again? They were once in God's light; they tasted heaven's gift and received their share of the Holy Spirit; 5they knew from experience that God's word is good, and they had felt the powers of the coming age. 6And then they abandoned their faith! It is impossible to bring them back to repent again, because they are again crucifying the Son of God and exposing him to public shame.

7God blesses the soil which drinks in the rain that often falls on it and which grows plants that are useful to those for whom it is cultivated. 8 But if it grows thorns and weeds, it is worth nothing; it is in danger of being cursed by God and will be destroyed by fire.

9But even if we speak like this, dear friends, we feel sure about you. We know that you have the better blessings that belong to your salvation. 10God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians. 11Our great desire is that each of you keep up your eagerness to the end, so that the things you hope for will come true. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient, and so receive what God has promised.

Reflect

According to today’s reading, being mature in faith means more than just thinking about the basic things we were taught about Christ. One needs to live as a follower of Christ day to day. How do you connect Jesus’s teachings with the challenges of your daily life?

Pray

Merciful and loving God, I want to be spiritually mature. Grow my understanding of your ways so that I might live by the teachings of Jesus. Increase my wisdom as I seek to serve you faithfully. Amen.

Prayer Concern

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