Today’s Theme: Looking at Hebrews 6 Through a Modern Lens
Audio Option
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Scripture
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. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 6:10-12
Reflection
I want to approach this part of the letter from a modern perspective and the struggles we face today with our priorities and being disciplined servants. God first, family second, and everything else third—in that order, there is order. In that order, and only in that order, shall you have the foundation and map for life as God intends. If you’re too lazy to commit to God and family, then you’re too lazy to do the work He intends.
God has a way of showing you how to prioritize when times get bad, and you don’t know what to do—since you have no true control when life’s storms come barreling through. When times get rough, you’re to turn first to God and continue to lean on His love by embracing your family. As you enter unchartered territories, things will become more complicated to navigate through, but when you remember that your compass is God and your crew is your family, you will find greater confidence.
Broken, Toxic, Dysfunctional, Absent Families
Now, let me be clear for those of you with highly dysfunctional and negative families or those without living family members—your family, by extension, in these scenarios, are those who would serve mostly as family members. Who would you turn to as a father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, or cousin? Who can you count on during life’s storms to help see you through? Who can you trust with your deepest and most sensitive secrets? Who do you celebrate good news and victories with?
Then that is your family.
Embrace them. Celebrate them. Bond with them through moments of celebration, contemplation, frustration, and despair.
Desires of the Heart
I want to be surrounded by people who are filled with faith, patience, righteousness, love, and joy no matter what the situation, circumstance, day, or season. When I’m down, I want to imitate those who are living the example as honorable stewards. I don’t want to be lazy and resistant. I don’t want to make excuses for not living right, doing right, and working hard each and every day. I don’t want to make excuses for not representing God’s light even when darkness chases me, and it’s easier to stop and be consumed.
I don’t want to make excuses for why I can’t give 100% effort in my personal and professional relationships. Let me clarify, I may have 50% to give, so I’m to give the 50%; that’s 100% effort. I’m not to ration it. I’m not to dangle it like a carrot for people to beg to have access to. God doesn’t treat us that way, so why do we do it to others? During family time, or whatever time I’m to be committed to, 100 percent of me needs to be invested at that moment.
I’m trying to live through my interpretation of where my priorities should be— because after God comes my family and then everything else. If I can’t give myself to those I call family, but yet I have it in me to give to strangers and those around me, who I can trust only so much, or not at all— then my priorities are off, and I need to reset. If I’m off course, I ask that God reset me and point me in the right direction.
I ask God to remind me when I’m investing more outside of my foundation than within, to remind me when I’m investing in people, places, and things that I shouldn’t. I don’t want to be lost. I don’t want to cheapen and disrespect my relationship with Him. I don’t want to take my family for granted. I don’t want to weaken, destroy, and lose valuable relationships chasing the superficial, the past, the flesh, and the temporal. If something or someone does not bring added value to my relationship with God and family—not one or the other, but both—then I ask God to let me see this clearly, so that I can walk away and refocus.
I know that the enemy will try to trick me into believing that something or someone is in my best interest, that it or they serve God’s purpose, placed before me by Him for my and my family’s gain. Or just my gain. I ask God to give me the discernment and clarity to see the truth and know the trick for what it is and the goal it seeks to achieve. I ask to be freed from spiritual, mental, and physical bonds that would and are blocking my blessings.
We fail God and ourselves when we turn outside of our foundation for shelter, love, pleasure, acknowledgment, and kudos. What you feel you’re not getting from God and family is the exact same thing you aren’t giving in return. Think about it!
Prayer
Father, I know that You love me, are always with me, always watching me and watching over me. I know that You hear my thoughts and know my intentions. You know my heart Lord. You know that I want to be the best ambassador and steward that I can be, and that when I don’t live righteously it pains me.
Help me to do my part to properly invest in the two most important things to me, You and my family. In serving You I am blessed and fulfilled. In serving and protecting my family, they praise You, which blesses and fulfills me. My cup will always run over. Always remind me of this. Humbly I say Thank You. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Copyright 2011-2023. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Music: Climb by Shane Ivers; Quiescent In Time by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
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