Anyone who has stepped into another country has quickly learned that literal translations and even high school language classes fall short of actual spoken language use in conversations. When I was in Brazil, I always found it strange that when I was going out for a 10 mile run, my friends would say, "Eesh, Kate, ce tem coragem, nem?" It means literally something like, "Geez, Katie, you have 'courage', don't you?" I quickly learned that in that instance it means more something like "will power". But I still like the terminology used in Brazilian Portuguese. After all, will power requires a certain type of courage... to make a change, to do something challenging, to really believe that you can. Yes, most runners have "coragem." But then, so do Christians.
It's not always easy, especially in academic circles, but increasingly in other areas of life, to be Christian. Oh, being a Christian or "Creaster" who visits church on the major holidays is acceptable and popular enough, but to read the Bible, pray regularly and commit your life to following the Lord... that's challenging. That takes "coragem."
Today's bible verse Hebrews 6:9-20 describe what me might do to continue to have the "coragem" to be a faithful follower of Jesus. Three key ingredients: 'holy leisure,' patience, and faith.
Holy Leisure
9 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. 10 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. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. ~Hebrews 6:9-12
New Years is a great time to talk about... time. We're all busy making schedules, starting new routines and planning time to do all of those new goals: running a marathon, cooking health dinners, taking the dog for a walk every day. But we hardly ever talk about 'leisure time.' In fact, one of the more important and essential parts of a balanced and healthy life so often gets swept to the side as we over-schedule our agendas, packing in every minute of spare time with extra courses, fitness programs, new hobbies, etc. Recent reports have discussed problems caused by youth in their over-scheduled lifestyles, running from soccer practice to dance practice to drama club and church activities. We need downtime desperately.
Verses 9-12 may not seem to suggest that. You might argue, "Katie, what are you saying? The author is talking about "diligence" and warning against "laziness"?" Very keen observations indeed, but also note that we are asked to imitate those who through 'faith and patience inherit what is promised' (v.12). Hmm, patience sounds like a pretty great way to spend some spiritual leisure time to me. You may think that 'holy leisure' is a term that doesn't quite fit together. I admit, it's a nontraditional take on things, but perhaps that's what we need. It's a term that Thomas Merton discusses in "Spiritual Direction & Meditation."
"Now Fathers of the Church well understood the importance of a certain "holy leisure" --otium sanctum. We cannot give ourselves to spiritual things if we are always swept off our feet by a multitude of external activities. Business is not the supreme virtue, and sanctity is not measured by the amount of work we accomplish. Perfection is found in the purity of our love for God, and this pure love is a delicate plant that grows best where there is plenty of time for it to mature."
Quietly reading the Bible, praying and meditating, journaling our thoughts can be a refreshing and beautiful leisure activity. Just give it a try, and I'm sure you'll agree. But another type of holy leisure described here could be that of the work needed to help our brothers and sisters. Taking time to help out friends, neighbors and programs that we believe in could also be determined spiritual leisure. If we make time for spiritual leisure in our lives, we will be more diligent and less lazy in our spiritual lives... creating a more balanced life in the new year.
Patience
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. ~Hebrews 6:13-1416 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. ~Hebrews 6:16-20
In addition to referring to Abraham's faith, the author provides a few more beautiful illustrations to encourage us, give us hope and restore our faith in the justice of God's plan. The "two unchangeable things" in which God cannot lie cited in verse 18 are described my study Bible as God's promise and God's unchanging nature. While I found this explanation perplexing at first, I believe it to mean that God gave His oath to reaffirm the truth of His statement, something that people in that day probably practiced in their own business and personal transactions. Additionally, God by swearing by himself reminded the people of His unchanging character which means that he cannot lie about His promises. People would swear by the sun or the earth or something they deemed equally constant as a proof. God was giving proof and images of His constancy to renew the people's hope. But that was not all.
Another image provided here is God as anchor... firm, steady and secure. Though it may not mean much to us non-seafaring folk, remember that many of the disciples and other people in this area would have traveled by boat or perhaps be fishermen themselves. They trusted that their anchor would keep them steady in a storm or a place where they wanted to fish. God is the one who steadies us in the storm and gives us all good gifts, if only we have faith in Him.
And yet another beautiful image to renew our hope and faith in the Lord is Christ as the high priest. While the previous two images would've been familiar to the Jewish people, the author is reminding the people that is not all. Christ is an integral part to our religious lives. The Jewish community would understand the image of the "curtain", knowing that the "high priest" was allowed to go behind the "curtain" once a year to be in the presence of God. But our hope as Christians is Christ as the high priest who has passed beyond the boundary of the curtain and stays there, interceding for us so that we also may be in the presence of the Lord. With faith in the hope that Christ offers us for eternal salvation, we will have the courage to be diligent Christians with the patience to wait for the fulfillment of all of God's promises.
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