That You May Not Be Sluggish

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That You May Not Be Sluggish

When a child sees an adult doing something interesting,  they want to imitate it.     Their imitation can be a cute and joyful moment  of learning,  or a horrifying moment,  if they copied an adult’s bad behavior.

As much as we don’t like to think about it — we adults are  habitual imitators  also.     We can either be striving  to imitate what is good — or we can be sluggishly slipping  into imitating what is evil.     Hebrews 6:11-12 speaks  to our daily choices  of imitating,

And we desire  that each one of you  show the same diligence  so as to realize the full assurance of hope  until the end,  that you may not be sluggish,  but imitators  of those  who through faith  and patience  inherit the promises.

It takes diligence and effort  to do what is right and good.     That diligence and effort is spurred on by  “the full assurance  of hope”.     When we remember  that we’ve got a special reward coming,  we will work  to receive that reward.     And,  it most certainly is coming to all those,  who by faith,  live to the glory of God.     Our “goodness”  in imitating God’s goodness is not what will be rewarded — but,  our faith  in the promises of our Savior will be richly rewarded.     So,  our imitation is actually loving God  because He first loved us.

We are imitators  of God  as Paul says in Ephesians 5:1,

Therefore  be imitators of God,  as beloved children;  and walk in love,  just as Christ also loved you,  and gave Himself up  for us,  an offering  and a sacrifice  to God  as a fragrant aroma.  

We don’t want to imitate all the evils  in this world  because that’s the lazy man’s way.     Paul urgently preached  in Romans 12:2,

And  do not be conformed  to this world,  but be transformed  by the renewing  of your mind,  that you may prove  what the will of God is,  that which is good  and acceptable  and perfect.

So,  we need to ask ourselves,  “Are my imitations pleasing  in the sight  of God Almighty?”     If they are not,  we need  to stop  being so sluggish  and start striving  to please our Lord and God — just because  of the awesome greatness  of His love and compassion  for us  in Jesus Christ.

As we abide in Christ Jesus,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  thank You for Your righteousness and holiness  in granting us salvation  through Jesus.     Let us always see the beauty  of  Your goodness and love,  so that we may desire  to imitate it.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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