What generates healthy spirituality?
Feb 7, 2011
The Base for Grace - part twenty-eight in a study of the book of Hebrews
By Mike Gaudet
What generates healthy spirituality?
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:19-25
Many of us are aware of the importance of faith, hope and love in the Christian life. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
What we fail to realize is that “faith”, “hope” and “love” are built upon “confidence.” Since “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place” we are encouraged to “draw near to God . . . with full assurance of faith”, “hold unswervingly to the hope” and “spur one another on toward love.”
The word translated “confidence” in this passage has a distinctive meaning. It refers to the ability to speak freely with someone in authority. Because Christ’s sacrifice opened the door into God’s presence, God tells us to speak candidly and openly with Him. This is not a suggestion; it’s a command. A growing ability to reverently and honestly communicate with God is the single most important spiritual ability that we can develop. Spiritual growth is utterly dependent upon a growing capacity to “speak freely” with God.
Confidence is the foundation of faith.
We all fail to honor our commitments to God. Because we feel guilty about what we have or have not done, we begin to treat God like we treat someone we owe money to . . . we withdraw from Him. God wants us to “draw near.”
Having faith doesn’t mean that we always obey God. It means that when our consciences are burdened, we can confidently approach God in order to have “our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” Confidence enables us to resist the guilt-driven tendency to distance ourselves from God.
Confidence is the foundation of hope.
The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. One writer has called it a “long obedience in the same direction.” Hope is what enables us to put one foot in front of another when the grade becomes steep and we become weary.
Being able to communicate authentically with God empowers us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.” Trust in God is eroded by difficulties. We question His faithfulness when we suffer. We begin to harbor doubts when those we care about struggle. “Keeping a lid on” our questions and doubts builds barriers between God and ourselves. Being “honest to God” helps break down the barriers that keep us from trusting that “he who promised is faithful”
Confidence is the foundation of love.
Love begets love. This is true in human-human relationships. It is also true in divine-human relationships. “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 Being loved by God fuels our ability to love Him in return.
Communication is the lifeblood of loving relationships. God instructs us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence” because this openness will foster a healthy relationship with Him. We can only open ourselves up to another person when we believe it’s safe to do so. God assures us that it is safe to be open with Him in order to develop an intimate relationship with us.
Confidence is the foundation of the Christian life.