Hebrews 5:11-6:8
Dear RTB’ers,
Two distinct topics covered in today’s reading – spiritual maturity (chapter 5) and falling away (chapter 6). The second topic is a bit scary: For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance. (Heb. 6:4-6a) I hope and trust that we RTB’ers don’t fall into this category, and I pray that earlier RTB’ers are still on the path of serving God. It’s a good topic, but not for today.
I am more interested in the “spiritual maturity” topic, especially a particular one-half verse: For though by this time you ought to be teachers… (Heb. 5:12a) The question that popped up to me was, “How many of you are teachers?” Let me back off from “teachers” a bit and suggest “mentors” (although not disallowing teaching). Many of us are older and have raised children and grandchildren and poured our lives into them. But beyond that, how many of us have served the Lord by teaching or mentoring His people? There are abundant blessings in store for us when we do what we can to raise up other (younger) Christians. Frankly, I didn’t really learn Economics until I started teaching it. Likewise, I really began to know the Bible when I joined and then started leading Bible groups. I would strongly recommend that each of us find a teaching or mentoring opportunity. You will bless your student’s or mentee’s life – and your own! … by this time you ought to be teachers…! Yes / No? Thoughts?
Blessings!