City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

⁹ Even though we are speaking this way, dearly loved friends, in your case we are confident of things that are better and that pertain to salvation. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them. ¹¹ Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, ¹² so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

Hebrews 6:9-12 (CSB)

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 

James 2:14-18 (CSB)

Reflection

The author of Hebrews used the prior verses that Efe wrote on Tuesday to show as a warning to people who act Christian-like, but never truly have a heart-posture of surrender and belief in Jesus. It didn’t mean that people with a true saving faith could so easily fall away, but that if you truly were repentant and believed, that it’ll show in your life. True believers will show fruit of the Spirit and it’ll be evident that Christ lives in them. The author here wants to exhort the Jewish believers to keep at it, as it’s not in vain and God remembers the works that they do.

It takes work and is a constant, daily struggle to crucify our flesh and to live by the Spirit. The author knows this and understands how it is all connected to maturity. There is no way any believer can grow into maturity without practicing the spiritual disciplines. True believers trust in God by worshipping Him daily, praying diligently, and meditating on the Word of God, but also acting it out within their community. As James said, be doers of the Word, not just hearers (James 1:22). We do not want to fall into temptation or to become dull of hearing, but to be great servants in God’s kingdom where people can only speak well of us.

Application

The author of Hebrews says in verse 12 to be imitators of those who inherited the promise of God. These are mentioned in great detail in a later chapter and includes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David. We have these examples as well, but we also have four gospels of Jesus to help us imitate Him and many other men and women of God throughout the millennia who have finished the race and received crowns of glory. We should meditate on these men and women and understand that nothing in this life comes easy and if we want to live for Christ, we cannot be lazy, forget the basic foundations of our faith, or stay on milk and not move on to solid food.

Take the time to think about these last few devotionals and how it relates to your life. Are you truly giving of yourself to serve others, using your spiritual gifts as God has given them, and growing in knowledge of God through reading and meditating on the Bible? Are you even praying about these things?

What kind of works are flowing out through your heart?

Prayer

Father in heaven, help me to be more like You and to imitate Jesus’ life on this earth. I have many examples of people who have done this throughout the centuries, so let me take courage from this. Not only this, but I need strength from Your Holy Spirit to live in such a way that pleases You. I do not want to fall into temptation or laziness, which are from the devil. Let me instead find my peace and rest in Your goodness. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.