6 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
Hebrews 6:1-3
Dear God, this passage this morning reminded me of when I was in middles school and high school. I never went deeper. I never went beyond repenting and placing my faith in you. I attended a Baptist church where I walked the aisle several times, including regular church services and revivals. I went to Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) regional and national conferences and walked the aisle there too. But there was no discipleship. No change. No maturation of my faith. I needed to “move forward to further understanding.”
For example, forgiveness. My wife and I are reading a book called Habits for a Healthy Marriage by Richard Fitzgibbons, MD. for our couples group at church. We were reading chapter 1 last night and it was on forgiveness. Frankly, it wasn’t resonating with us because it felt like it was treating forgiveness as something you can just decide to do, but it can take a lot of work to become a person who knows how to truly forgive. I highlighted this one part: “When anger develops from something of this sort, there are three basic options for dealing wit this complex and powerful emotion: (1) deny it, (2) express it actively and passively, or (3) forgive the perceived injury.” My wife stopped me when I was reading the aloud and said that she thinks oftentimes people will just deny they are angry about something and then think they are forgiving the offense. I reflected back to her that, yes, there can sometimes be a fine line between denial and forgiveness.
This morning, we were talking about it again, and she told me about a forgiveness meditation she uses that is done by a Catholic nun. In it, you go to the cross, but you take the person who offended you with you. It sounded like a good way to working through actual forgiveness, and not just pretending like something didn’t happen (denial).
I guess my point is that discipleship is so important. I have a friend who is pastor of a local church, and they have been having a lot of baptisms lately, which is great, but they are really helping the newly baptized learn discipleship skills. They are trying to actually change lives by helping people truly reconcile to you and grow in you and not just check them off as baptized and then move on. I greatly appreciate that.
Father, I am still on my journey. It truly started 37 years ago when I attended an FCA Leadership Conference and they talked to us more about discipleship training for a week than they did about getting us “saved.” I still consider that to be my baptism in the Holy Spirit moment. So help me to continue to learn about your character and nature. Continue to transform me into who you have for me to be. Love through me. Bring people closer to yourself through me. Help mem to be part of baptizing people in your Holy Spirit. And help me to truly forgive, and not just deny I am hurt.
I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 