Thursday, March 12
Read Hebrews 5:11-14
“The author closes his discussion of Jesus' qualifications to the high priest by alluding to Melchizedek again in verse 10. It is clearly the author's intent to develop his argument regarding Melchizedek, but his fear for the fragile spiritual commitment of his readers causes him to turn aside for a more specific exhortation to them. He states that they have become sluggish in hearing. This is normally interpreted as slowness or dullness of understanding, but the Jewish mind held hearing and obeying in close relationship. It is not their intellect for which the author fears, but their obedience. Obedience leads to understanding. When we require understanding before obeying we limit the spiritual growth that is available to us” (Roger Hahn). In a university town, this may be one of the epiphanal moments in this study. How often do we seek understanding before we obey? How often do we fail to live in all God has in store for us, not because he has not told us, but because we are waiting to understand before we obey? Have we merely become very intelligent people who are SLOW of hearing? Ask God today to bring to mind the truth he has revealed to you that you are not walking in because you don’t fully understand it.