A sure hope

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:10-12 NLT

Authentic Christianity is validated by how a professing believer lives. This is a crucial truth that we should not deny and neglect. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ reminded the people in the closing portion of the Sermon on the Mount. “You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17). It is the Spirit of God within that testifies with our spirit that we belong in the family of God. “‘You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:15b-16). It is the Spirit of God within that helps us produce God’s character. Understanding this life that we have in Christ is what provides us confidence and hope. This is what helps us stand up against insult and persecution as well as suffering. Knowing who we are in Christ is also what gives us the motivation to unselfishly commit ourselves to care for others especially those who are in the family of God. All these efforts of extending sacrificial help to others will not go unnoticed. “[God] will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers.” Caring for others should not be a thing of the past but should be our present lifestyle. This kind of attitude will prevent us from becoming lazy. “…keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.” We need to be diligent in living our lives on things of eternal values. Our perseverance in living a life of service provides clear evidence that we have a sure hope.

Blessings,