Student Question
What is the meaning of Hebrews 6:10-12 in the context of personal growth?
Quick answer:
Hebrews 6:10–12 in the New Testament of the Bible focuses on the importance of faith in times of crisis. An example of this is medical personnel during the current pandemic having to persevere despite overwhelming work and life-threatening conditions. The passage promises ultimate salvation and also spiritual satisfaction and growth in overcoming imperfections and carrying on in diligence and patience.
The book of Hebrews in the Bible often emphasizes the importance of clinging to faith and persevering despite adversity and difficult circumstances. The New International Version (NIV) of Hebrews 6:10–12 states the following:
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
When you write your essay about this passage of scripture, it is useful to keep in mind people who are compelled to make great sacrifices during the current pandemic. For instance, medical personnel work long hours and put their lives at risk so...
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that they can tend to those who have become severely ill. They may feel discouraged or even in despair as they toil away day after day with seemingly no end in sight. This passage reassures them that God will not forget the work that they are doing to help others. They should continue on in their work so that they might reap the spiritual rewards of their self-sacrifice.
"What has been promised" ultimately, of course, refers to salvation. However, it can also mean the spiritual satisfaction that people obtain when they sacrifice themselves, as Jesus did, for the good of others. The recognition of our own imperfections gives us compassion, because we realize that everyone is imperfect, and we are no better than anyone else. This gives us faith to work on overcoming our imperfections while at the same time we persist in service to others. That's why the passage emphasizes diligence and patience. Often we see our imperfections as failures, and if we do not keep in mind that God is watching and remembering our struggles, we can feel overwhelmed by them. The passage emphasizes that only faith can keep us steadfast so that we can obtain the spiritual goals toward which we are striving.