Heb. 13:22

22 And [de] I beseech [parakaleo] you [humas], brethren [adelphos], suffer [anechomai] the word [logos] of exhortation [paraklesis]: for [gar] [kai] I have written a letter [epistello] unto you [humin] in [dia] few words [brachus]. KJV-Interlinear

22 But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. NASB

We have been through thirteen chapters in this study and we are very near the end of this book. Though we started our study of this book in mid-summer of 2001 and resumed it in October of last year, we have been continuously studying this book of Hebrews now for just over five months.

Yet the writer states that this is a very brief account. To delve into the principles of doctrine in further and greater detail would require considerably more time. And yet how many have stuck through the process?

Well, I don t have the answer to that question. It doesn t really matter. If you are one of those who persevered then you will be the better for it. And after all, you are what is important in your personal life anyway. Only you can achieve your own personal spiritual growth. No one else can accomplish that for you. Only you will be the recipient of Gods blessings which He has set aside in heaven for you. No one else can acquire your blessings for you.

Though Hebrews can probably be read comfortably in about an hours time, in order to understand the content of scripture contained within it, takes considerably more time as well as reflection.

Hebrews is possibly one of the greatest books, if not the greatest book, of the New Testament. Just as Isaiah is probably one of the greatest books of the Old Testament, if not the entire Bible, because of the depth of its content.

The overall picture presented by Hebrews is glories. This book gives us a picture of truth, of what we have in our favor in this life. We know that if we pursue the New Covenant as presented in the Bible, which is the pursuit of Christ in our life, rather than pursuing anything that this world offers in terms of its enticements, then we will have a great life.

Pursuing Christ simply means studying, learning, understanding and applying Bible doctrine to our daily lives. And as a result advancing our spiritual state to maturity, to completion, to being fully equipped with good as defined by God.

And what is good? Any productive act which is accomplished within the sphere of fellowship, which is consistent and compatible with Gods plan. And that includes your Bible study, your learning, your consistency in your studies, your obedience to Gods mandates, your living your life in fellowship in accordance with Gods principles and so forth.

You produce good when you sleep (if you fall asleep while in fellowship). Why? Because God (the Holy Spirit) is in control of your soul when you are in fellowship and God (the Holy Spirit) works the miracle of your spiritual growth in your soul.

How do you build up soul muscle? By reading extensively? By running a mile everyday? By studying in the most prestigious of universities? By accumulating wealth? No.

You build up soul or spiritual muscle by reading about Adam and Eve, by reading about Moses, by reading about Job, by reading about Gideon, by reading the letter to the Corinthians, by reading the letter to the Romans, by reading Revelation, by studying the Bible.

How can one possibly grow up into a spiritual giant by reading Bible stories? They do not teach physics, or cooking, or automotive repair. They do not prepare you for a law practice or help you design a rocket, or help you do better in the stock market. They do not help you get a job, or find a lifetime companion.

These things are all things of this world. And spiritual growth is a supernatural experience. One in which God does all of the work and we do nothing.

To persevere in a daily study can be a taxing thing. We all want to read ahead, and get through the book so we can get on with the next book and the next. But Bible study is not a speed reading course. Your objective is not to read the entire Bible in a month just so you can read it all over again. Your Bible study is not something which has a beginning and an end where you know all there is to know, and then have nothing further to do.

Your objective is to learn (not speed read), and keep on learning everyday for the rest of your life. How can we possibly learn more and more after we have read the Bible, once or twice or several times? Well we just do, and that is part of the miracle of Gods accomplishment in our spiritual growth.

I suppose a good illustration would be a child learning to talk, then to read, then to write letters, then to write words, then sentences, then paragraphs, then pages, then chapters, then books, then series and so forth. So long as there are ideas the writing will never stop. No one can write everything that is writable.

Look at the night sky. This universe is vast and virtually infinite. We can never know it all. So too is Bible doctrine. Even though the Bible has a beginning (Genesis) and an end (Revelation), we might think that we can learn it all, but that is an impossibility. Rushing through your studies will defeat your growth. Trying to hurry up your learning will defeat your growth.

You can only study and learn and be patient with the passage of time as God works His miracle in you.

One day you will look back and you will be amazed at how much you have learned, and at how much you still have to learn.

Therefore, as the writer states, be patient, and bear with, the drawn out daily studies. You will learn vast amounts of doctrine if you eat your spiritual food one bite at a time.

Now is the time to post a prayer.