October 1 | Hebrews 5:11-6:12

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DAILY READING

Hebrews 5:11-14,

Hebrews 6:1-12

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REFLECTION

FICKLE OR FAITHFUL?

By Katie Borden

In the time that I spend on social media these days (which is honestly too much), I notice more and more how fickle we are in our relationships with one another. When I scroll through The App Formerly Known As Twitter, I see the most public figures engaging in public smears and crude treatment of their fellow human beings. I’m often taken back to middle school–the land where I had hoped that public spats, pettiness, and oft-shifting loyalties would remain.

Despite what I had hoped to be true about humanity, my Insta-feed tells a story of a society full of people who still don’t know where they actually stand with one another.

I think this same kind of insecurity can creep in when we wrestle with today’s text. When we live day-in and day-out in a world where it seems like the needle is always shifting regarding the right thing to say or do in order to remain in the “good graces” of the crowd, it’s hard not to read this text the same way. We might wonder if we’ve done enough good works for our faith to “count” as genuine. We might wonder if we’re forever cut off from God’s love if we feel like we’re losing our battle with sin (again) today.

Friends, while this passage does serve as a reminder of the gravity of the difference between living in God’s grace versus separation from God, let’s also allow this passage to remind us of the unchanging, everlasting truth that Jesus is Lord.

That is the gospel, my friends. Jesus is Lord, as demonstrated in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. He broke the power of sin and death over us, and we are now made alive in Christ through faith. This does not change. Jesus’ power cannot be rendered anything less than what it is–the power of life. Jesus cannot ever need to do more to grant us life through the forgiveness of sins. If we are looking anywhere else to find our hope, healing, and salvation, we won’t find it. In Jesus, we can’t not find it.

This doesn’t mean that we don’t keep cultivating our relationship with Jesus, or that we grow sluggish in our attention to the things the Holy Spirit is working out within us. In fact, our works are important–they are the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work! But our works cannot earn us–or take away from us–our salvation. Salvation is in Christ alone.

If you’ve been wondering if our God is fickle, rest assured: his promise is sure, and he is forever faithful to his promise.

If you’ve been trying to find your eternal rest and salvation somewhere else, turn back to Jesus and receive the forgiveness and grace that was secured once and for all in the cross. Thanks be to God!

PRAYER

God, I thank you for the certain promise we have in Jesus. By the work of your Spirit, help me to grow in your ways, and help me to turn back to you when I stray. I know that life is found in you alone. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KATIE BORDEN

I’m a lifelong member of UALC and have had the privilege of serving our community in both volunteer and staff roles over the years. I love learning, OSU football, good conversations, chocolate croissants, laughter, and sharing about the good news of Jesus in whatever capacity I can.