Day 1 —
Leaving the Shallow End
Scripture:
“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity…” (Hebrews 6:1, ESV)
Reflection:
When we hear “grow up,” we usually bristle. It sounds insulting, impatient, or harsh. But Hebrews 6 speaks with pastoral urgency, not cruelty. The writer is not scolding beginners—he is warning stagnated believers.
The “elementary doctrines” mentioned here are not the basics of Christianity as we often assume. They are doctrines a faithful Jew could affirm without embracing Christ fully. In other words, the danger was not ignorance, but settling. These believers were content to sprinkle Jesus onto a belief system that felt familiar and safe.
We face the same temptation. We often want a Christianity that fits comfortably inside our existing lives—one that doesn’t press too hard on our habits, priorities, or loves. But the gospel refuses to remain shallow. It insists on transformation.
To go on to maturity is not to move past Christ—but to move deeper into Him. Any faith that never stretches us is likely not forming us.
Response:
Ask honestly: Where have I settled for what is easy instead of pursuing what is true?
Pray: “Lord, don’t let me stop short of knowing You fully.”
Day 2 —
A Gospel That Offends Before It Heals
Scripture:
“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…” (Matthew 16:21, ESV)
Reflection:
We are drawn to versions of God that suit us. Some prefer a “loving God” who overlooks sin. Others prefer a “holy God” who condemns everyone else’s sin. But Jesus will not be reduced to either extreme.
The gospel is deeply offensive before it is deeply comforting. It declares that we are not just flawed but spiritually dead apart from Christ. It insists that no amount of good behavior can fix our problem. And it tells us that the only solution was the suffering and death of God’s Son.
If we downplay sin, we cheapen grace. If we soften the cross, we empty it of its power. A Christianity that costs nothing ultimately saves nothing.
The gospel wounds our pride so that it can heal our hearts.
Response:
Confess where you’ve reshaped Christianity for comfort.
Thank God specifically for the costliness of Christ’s sacrifice.
Day 3 —
Close Enough Isn’t the Same as Alive
Scripture:
“For it is impossible…to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God…” (Hebrews 6:4–6, ESV)
Reflection:
This passage is unsettling—and intentionally so. The warning is not aimed at atheists or outsiders, but at people inside the church. People who have heard the Word, seen God at work, and tasted something of the truth.
The danger is not outright rejection, but a kind of spiritual immunity—being so familiar with Christian language and practices that we mistake exposure for transformation. Like a dead plant replanted again and again, proximity cannot produce life where there is none.
There is a repentance that is merely emotional or temporary, not rooted in the finished work of Christ. When faith becomes something we add to our lives rather than something that reorients our lives, we may look alive while slowly withering.
This warning is meant to wake us up—not drive us to despair, but to honest self-examination.
Response:
Ask: Am I resting in Christ—or just around Christian things?
Pray Psalm 51:17 slowly and sincerely.
Day 4 —
Better Things That Belong to Salvation
Scripture:
“Yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.” (Hebrews 6:9, ESV)
Reflection:
After the warning comes hope. Real assurance does not come from perfection, but from evidence of life. The writer points to work, love, service, faith, and patience—not as the cause of salvation, but as its fruit.
True believers care about assurance. They want to know that God is truly at work in them. The Holy Spirit produces conviction, hunger for Christ, and affection for His people. These desires may be imperfect, but they are real.
A living faith bears fruit over time. It resists laziness. It perseveres. It imitates those who walk faithfully before us. Assurance grows as we walk forward, not as we stand still.
Response:
Thank God for any signs of grace you see—even small ones.
Ask Him to deepen your assurance through obedience and trust.
Day 5 —
Growing Up Together
Scripture:
“So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12, ESV)
Reflection:
Christian maturity is not a solo project. God grows His people through His church. Growth shows up in real ways: deeper engagement with God’s Word, active use of spiritual gifts, and participation in the mission of making disciples.
A thin, consumer-style Christianity cannot sustain us—especially when following Christ becomes costly. Around the world, believers pay far more than inconvenience for their faith. The gospel has always required sacrifice.
God does not call us to comfort, but to life. And life in Christ will often feel uncomfortable. It will stretch us, humble us, and sometimes hurt us. But it will also lead us into joy, purpose, and hope that cannot be shaken.
“Let us grow up together.” Not by willpower alone—but by God’s grace, if He permits.
Response:
Answer honestly:
- Where do I need to grow?
- How can I serve?
- Who am I helping follow Jesus?
Pray: “Lord, don’t let me settle. Lead me forward.”