“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.” – Hebrews 6:11

Scripture reading: Hebrews 5:10-6:12

Have you ever wondered…

… why the Israelites in the wilderness wanted to go back to Egypt? Especially when they were so close to the Promised Land?

… why the people in the wilderness grumbled again and again about the food God gave them?!

… why they preferred the fish, the garlic, the leeks and onions, the melons and the cucumbers of Egypt over the huge clusters of grapes from the Promised Land?

The answer of the writer to the Hebrews is clear: spiritual immaturity… They were living by their cravings and desires rather than by the Word of God. Let this passage challenge us, and ask ourselves: what am I living for? The Word or, my desires? The author to the Hebrews desires that professing Christians would mature, spiritually speaking. In Hebrews 5:11-14 he shows how he wants to talk about spiritually rich topics, like Jesus as the greater Melchizedek. But he fears that because they are still loving their spiritual baby food, they cannot stomach this spiritually rich banquet, yet. That’s why he says in 6:1: “Let us go on to perfection” (maturity).

More than that, in Hebrews 6:4-8, he comes with a stirring warning, thinking back of the wilderness wanderings. Many enjoyed the richest blessings of God, but most of them were not saved and changed… Although he knew that it was different for many of his hearers, yet, he still stirred them up to replace all dullness for diligence and hopeful assurance through faith in Christ (Heb 6: 9-12).

Suggestions for prayer

Prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal areas in your life where you have been spiritually immature or dull. Pray that you may grow up in Christ to full maturity to be(come) a strong Christian.

Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.