Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Just yesterday I wrote about how we are not to be lazy, but this particular verse didn’t come to mind. However, as I also quoted yesterday, “God’s got it all in control!” The section from 5:11 through 6:8 is pretty severe, scolding the readers for being “slow to learn,” (5:11) and talking about complete apostasy in 6:4-8, but 6:9-11 is much more comforting. The thing is, our confidence and assurance must rest not on ourselves and our abilities but on God, or it is all an illusion. As I have written recently, I don’t like the Japanese term for confidence, because it is written as “believe in yourself.” I’ve learned the hard way that I’m not worthy of such faith! However, God is totally faithful, and if our hearts are fixed on Him, we have nothing to worry about. It was near the end of his physical life that Paul quoted a hymn of the day, saying, “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) As Romans 7 says clearly, even Paul struggled with his own sinful tendencies. The thing is, despite it all being dependent on God, our actions still have consequences. We’d rather not be saved “escaping through the flames,” (1 Corinthians 3:15) but rather with the full reward for our service to the Lord and His kingdom, as it says in verse 10. That’s why we are admonished not to be lazy, because obedient service to God never goes unrewarded in eternity.

Yesterday I was greatly blessed and encouraged to hear the church functioning fully without me, as I lay in my bed feeling physically miserable. Minor balls got dropped, but I really look forward to editing the audio from the livestream, to know what was actually said. The believers here aren’t lazy! This was another blessing from the Lord to wean us away from being pastor-centered to be properly Christ-centered. I look forward to ministering more years here, but I have assurance that it is Christ’s church and He will take care of it, even if I’m not around. He is bringing in people who are seasoned believers, establishing the harvest workers that He told us to pray for, (Matthew 9:38) so that Omura may indeed be restored to being the foremost Christian city in the nation, as He has given us as our Church Vision.

Father, thank You indeed for what You are doing. It’s worth getting sick to see it happening! Thank You for the plans for next week, with general discussion about our hopes and plans for the coming year following the pot-luck lunch. I pray that yesterday’s experience would open people’s minds and hearts to how You want them to participate more and more actively, so that this church may indeed grow in every way as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!