Welcome to Day 2249 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Hebrews-10 The Brighter Side – Daily Wisdom Putnam Church Message – 06/18/2023 “The Brighter Side” Hebrews 6:9-20 Last week, we continued our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Our focus was on The Peril Of Failing to Thrive. We learned the three Practical Principles for Spiritual Progress, which are:
- We need to partake in solid spiritual food.
- We need to maintain the practice of righteous living.
- We need to exhibit a trained sense of discernment.
This week, we will take the strong warnings from last week and look at “The Brighter Side” of our journey that we, as believers, need to mature spiritually. The great German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Correction does much, but encouragement does more. Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.” The strong warning we studied last week in Hebrews 6:1–8 is among the most sobering in all Scripture. (Drama) I can imagine those words hung over the original audience like thick, black storm clouds rumbling and flashing, threatening to pour out their floodwaters and hurl their barbs of lightning at any moment. But then/ the thunder stops. The lightning gives way to a speck of light peeking through the clouds. Then another … and another. Suddenly, a brilliant sunbeam pierces the darkness, brightening the day and bringing warmth, joy, and encouragement. That’s the feeling those Jewish Christians had when they got to 6:9. Surely they wouldn’t forget the stern warning of the previous verses: “Don’t stray from the path of spiritual growth!” However, the Lord led the author of Hebrews to transition into a section of affirmation, encouragement, and hope (6:9–12), leading the audience out from under the shadows of the threatening storm clouds and back to his original theme: Jesus Christ is our High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek (6:13–20). Let's start with reading Hebrews 6:9–12 on page 1868 of the Pew Bibles. 9 Even though we speak like this (harsh warnings), dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy,/ but to imitate those who through faith and patience/ inherit what has been promised. As in construction or road work, blasting is sometimes needed before building begins. The author of Hebrews issued a strong command in 5:11–6:3—“Grow up!” He followed that with the reverberating blast of grim consequences for those who fail to thrive and instead fall away (6:4–8). Now, just...
