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
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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