Destined for Greatness

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.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 6

9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,

12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Live with Confidence (vs. 9-10)

The writer of Hebrews in encouraging the Christians that they have what it takes to move forward in faith. Way to many times we do not move forward in faith because we don’t have the confidence to do it. Our confidence to live the life God wants us to live does not come from us; it come from God. Way too often we are a lot like Moses and say “I can’t” when God calls us to do something. We need to realize that it is not about what we can do, but about what God can do through us. We put stock into our own abilities instead of the abilities of Almighty God.

We shouldn’t be asking ourselves if we have confidence in us, we need to be asking if we have confidence in God. Because if we have confidence in God, then we know He can do all things, even through us, despite our limitations. If we are not living with confidence this life we have in Christ, we are not showing confidence in our Savior. It is not about us, but it is about what Christ can do through us! Do you have confidence in Jesus? Then live with confidence in this Christian life.

You see Jesus does not want us to perform for Him. He wants to work through us! There is a big difference between the two. Performance is focused on the human actor and audience. Being a vessel has the focus on the Savior. We are to called to be performers in this Christian life. A performer is focused on their abilities. Vessels are focused on the craftsman and user of the vessel. We can learn to live in confidence as we focus on being a vessel rather than a performer.

How do we live with confidence? Remember what God said through the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 29:11 NASB95

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 29

11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

We can live with confidence when we follow the plans of God in our life! When we obediently follow God, the clearer His plans become. It may not be the easiest thing to do. More than likely it will not be the popular thing to do, but it will be God’s plan for you. God’s plan for us. And if we obediently follow Him, we can live in confidence.

Your obedience and for God’s plans, and your love for each other and for those who need Jesus will be remembered by God. As you follow God’s path, God sees it and He remembers it, and it will be rewarded.

Proverbs 19:21 NASB95

Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

English Standard Version Chapter 19

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

Live with Diligence (vs. 11)

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,

The Hebrew Christians were beginning to experience the intense persecution of the church by Rome in the 1st Century. Not only that, false teachings, and seeing others who were once a part of the church, walk away from the faith, weighed on their minds. I’m sure the questions arose in their hearts and minds, “Is this even worth it?”

What they needed was assurance, the assurance of their hope of their faith in Jesus. How were they to realize this assurance of their salvation? Notice what God says through the author of Hebrews, “show the same diligence.”

So what does that mean? Notice the word show. That tells me that what they were to be doing, needed to be seen. This journey of faith in Jesus needed to be seen by fellow believers and by the lost world as well. Folks, our journey with Christ, is not just an inward experience, but it is also visible witness. The world needs to see your faith, and they need to see it lived out in love! Don’t fall into the lie that your faith is just personal and no one needs to know about it. That is a lie from Satan to prevent you from drawing others to Jesus.

But notice this, we are to show diligence. Some of your translations may show hasten, or do quickly. What this original Greek word means is to do quickly to the best of your ability. So, living this Christian life, is to be done now, to the best of one’s ability.

There is no time to wait, don’t finish up something else and get started. It needs to be lived out now because time is short. Be the best you can be starting now. Despite the circumstance you are in, live they life you are called to, to the best of your ability. Paul says it this way.

Philippians 3:14 NASB95

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Live in footsteps (vs. 12)

12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

It is always good to follow someone who has gone before you, who has done things the right way. It is the same in our journey of faith. As believers look for people who have lived faithful lives. Get to know them, follow their faithful steps.

However, the best example of living this journey of faith you are called to live, is Jesus Christ Himself. Definitely follow his footsteps. Follow His example. Because after all you are called to be His disciple. You are called a Christian, because not only have you put your faith in Jesus, it is also because your life is to look more and more like Jesus.

So often our world teaches us to make our own path. God’s Word teaches us that the path is already made, the example is set, we just need to follow the one who has made the path for us.

Are you following the path of Jesus in your life? You can never live a life of greatness if you are following any other path. If you are following a faithful believer they are should be following Jesus. He is our example. His plans and purposes should be our goal. As we follow Him, and follow the plans and purposes He has for us, we will be living a great life. We will be living out our destiny of greatness.

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