Hebrews 6:3

Hebrews 6:3

God permitting, we will do so

At first sight, the simple statement here in this short verse, seems to be rather inconsequential, just a statement of well-meant intent. It is anything but! The writer is affirming his personal commitment and that of all who teach younger believers, that we will endeavour to make the simple truths known and that the topics previously mentioned will feature in our teaching programmes. However, when we add “and God permitting, we will do so” we are effectively admitting our dependence on Him and that we can keep talking until “the cows come home” but unless the Lord brings enlightenment by His Holy Spirit the immature ones will never reach maturity. 

All our endeavours for the Lord are shrouded in potential but also carry the possibility of disappointment, for we all need to recognise our vulnerabilities and that we never know the consequences of our own words and actions, let alone what the Lord might be planning! So, we may set out with good intentions to teach the immature among us, we may have great hopes of seeing them grow in faith, in knowledge and in active participation in the work of the Lord. In fact we have to take a positive view of these things and give our very best to achieve them, however, we do not know what the outcome of our efforts will be and we certainly should not boast about them, our task is simply to obey the will of the Lord and the consequences are very much in His hands. It follows that some of the flock hurtle towards maturity and leave us astonished at their appetite for spiritual food and their ability to apply what they have learned. There will always be others who never seem to grasp what we have taught them, who cannot apply that truth to their lives and who never seem to grow in faith or in their love for the Lord. Only He knows how these things will play out; we always have to be prepared for pleasant surprises and for disappointments. “And God permitting, we will do so.” 

By the way, do our church’s teaching programmes include the subjects described in these verses? 

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