Hebrews 6:9-11 – Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 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.

Getting discouraged while doing good

Has it ever happened to you? Have you been in a meeting, come up with an idea, and because you came up with it, you’re now the implementor as well. Sometimes that’s good, but sometimes you have an idea, but you’re not the one with the gifts to get the job done. This can be very discouraging. Sometimes you think you’ve been given a great idea or way to spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through a Bible Study, discussion, event or maybe even a game night, but no one shows. You put a lot of work in, but it all seems for not.

God is not unjust

The verse above is very encouraging to me. I think of the times I have helped someone, only to have them complain about how I helped later. Or maybe I helped out at the church, and no one even noticed. Sure that’s probably a selfish attitude, but it’s also not true. Someone did notice. This verse from Hebrews reminds us that God notices, “He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

He will not forget the love you have shown Him

Sometimes we want the person we helped to value our help as much as we value our own time. We might think to ourselves, I could have been getting the grocery shopping done, or been getting a pedicure, instead I’m helping this ungrateful person. But here is where we need to remember who we’re really serving. God will not forget the love you have shown him. In the verse above it tells us we show God our love as we have helped His people and continue to help them. As one of my dear friends from Bible study would say, “Serve them with love.” She has said this when she knew we were talking about people we found hard to love and to serve. I loved the phrase already, but coupled with the reminder from Hebrews that we’re showing God love through helping others makes that a little sweeter in the mouth. I can serve them with love, because of His love for me and my love for Him. God makes serving others with love possible.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end

We are called to show others love no matter what. We are to be diligent in doing good for others until our very last hour. Why? “So that what you hope for may be fully realized.” Our good works and love shown for others doesn’t get us to heaven, but it is a sign that we love our Lord above all else, and believing in God is the saving Grace we desire.

Can you serve them with love?