<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+6:1-12">Hebrews 6:1-12</span></span></p><p>Quietly we are coming to see that it is only as we learn to dwell at God's right hand in fellowship with Christ that we can experience true happiness and joy. Despite the clear teaching of Jesus that happiness is a by-product of righteousness (becoming more and more like Christ), there are still thousands of Christians paying no more than lip service to this truth. Happiness is their goal, righteousness merely their desire. I am speaking generally when I make this next point, but sit down with any Christian who does not experience true happiness and you will find, deep within that person's heart, that they have never come to a clear understanding of this important principle uttered by Jesus: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." The same condition can be noted in nine out of ten people who seek help through Christian counselling. Ask them what they want to experience as they go through counselling, and they say, "I want to feel good", or "I want to feel happy." I imply no criticism or condemnation of these people, for I know that the same tendency exists in my own heart. Whenever I am struggling or hurting over some issue, my immediate desire is to get rid of the negative feelings and recover my lost happiness. But to try to find happiness is like trying to fall asleep. As long as you consciously and zealously try to grasp it, it fails to come. There is only one way: it is to do whatever you have to do in the situation to glorify Christ. Then happiness inevitably bubbles upward - as it must.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, I am so grateful that, as my Lover and my Redeemer, You corner my soul. Don't let me wriggle and apologise and slip past You. Help me to take my medicine, however bitter to the taste of self it may be. In Jesus' Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="php+3:1-11">Philippians 3:1-11</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="2co+13:11">2 Corinthians 13:11</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+4:13">Ephesians 4:13</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="col+1:28">Colossians 1:28</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What was Paul's desire?</li><li>What was Paul's goal?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"Therefore let us ' go on to maturity '" (v. 1) 

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+6:1-20">Hebrews 6:1-20</span></span></p><p>Out of all the aspects of truth that surround the fact of our Lord's ascension, one of the greatest is surely this - Christ is our Precursor. A precursor is really a forerunner - an advance runner - and that is precisely the term which our text for today applies to the climactic ministry of our ascended Lord. The NIV translates the word prodromos (forerunner) thus: "who went before us." That translation, in my opinion, is not nearly as appealing as that found in other versions, where the word forerunner is actually used. "Forerunner" brings to mind a picture of our Lord as a celestial outrider "bringing many sons to glory"  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+2:10">Hebrews 2:10</span>), and reminds us of a petition in the great high priestly prayer: 'Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory ..." (<span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+17:24">John 17:24</span>). Henry Longfellow, in his Golden Legend, put it like this: When Christ ascended Triumphantly, from star to star, He left the gates of heaven ajar! Much as I like Longfellow, I have to disagree. Our Lord left the gates of heaven not just "ajar" but wide open. One of the creeds expresses it more effectively: "When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers." Whatever the future holds for us, we who are Christ's can be sure of this: our Lord has ascended into heaven. And so, too, shall we.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, I see that not only was there an ascension in the life of Your Son, but there is to be one in mine too. According to Your Word, I am to be "caught up in the clouds" and to be with You forever. Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+17:1-26">John 17:1-26</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+1:12">John 1:12</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+4:7">Galatians 4:7</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+15:39-44">1 Corinthians 15:39-44</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What does being sons make us?</li><li>What do we enter into through death?</li></ul></div></div>

"... Jesus, who went before us ..." (v. 20)

<p>Does not this word " slothful" accurately characterize the habit of mind of most professors of religion? While we behold them diligently in the pursuit of worldly good, laboring untiringly on in the acquisition of wealth; while we see them exercising circumspection, vigilance, forethought, sagacity in their temporal vocation, and giving to it the best energies of their nature, we see them indolent and sluggish in all that relates to their heavenly calling. They read the newspapers with a closeness of observation that nothing can escape; but the Bible with a carelessness that leaves them just as ignorant afterwards as they were before. When topics of the day are discussed, their minds are easily kept on the stretch; but in religious meetings they are obliged to exert themselves not a little to keep awake. Any excuse is sufficient to make them dismiss or postpone a religious duty; while in the other engagements of life, they are sufficiently punctual. They are minutely attentive to the state of their body, and take good note of every ailment however insignificant; but they are not at all vigilant in the examination of their hearts and in the avoidance of whatever is likely to be prejudicial to their spiritual interests. On the whole they think it enough to give to religion the mere fragments of their time and attention and thought and energy. </p><p>Be not as they are. Be not slothful. Be slothful with respect to all other things, rather than this. Let your greatest energy be given to this. Not merely because it is becoming, but because it is necessary. There would be a very serious defect in the way of salvation, if it bestowed its priceless gifts on slothful men. If you would inherit the promised kingdom, you must model your life upon the lives of those whose faith and patience are honorably mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Be sure that nothing less is required of you than was demanded of them. </p>

A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.

Bowen's Daily Meditations

" Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." - Hebrews 6:12. 

<p>Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. § Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. § Whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord. § I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. § Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? § Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.<br><br>Brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble. § We desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. § Run in such a way that you may obtain it.</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">12 </sup>We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate   those who through faith and patience   inherit what has been promised.   </span></p>

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate<cr>1</cr>  those who through faith and patience<cr>2</cr>  inherit what has been promised.<cr>3</cr> 

Hebrews 6:12

 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate   those who through faith and patience   inherit what has been promised.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

<p><span class="bible-text ">We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate   those who through faith and patience   inherit what has been promised.   </span></p>

 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate   those who through faith and patience   inherit what has been promised.  

Bible Verse of the Day

January 31, 2023

Hebrews 6:12 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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