Daily Devotions
Hebrews
"Ignorant and going astray"
Text: Hebrews 5:2
WE IMAGINE TOO MUCH
Sometimes we imagine way too much, especially with reference to our spiritual state. We like to see ourselves as people who are “not too bad”. Perhaps if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we have the following problems described in the following text.
“Those who are ignorant and going astray…”
Hebrews 5:2b
TWO COMMON SIN PROBLEMS
1. Ignorance
We decry “ignorance” in many areas of life:-
a) Ignorance where education is concerned has dire consequences.
b) Ignorance with reference to medical, scientific, business knowledge would set us back severely.
c) Sadly, we do not have this same attitude with reference to the problem of spiritual ignorance.
i) We seem to be contented with but a little knowledge of God.
ii) We can remain “happily ignorant” for the longest time.
2. Going astray
This is another problem that we do not deal with adequately. The problem of going astray has a number of expressions:-
a) Backsliding (Cf. Jeremiah 3:22)
b) Forsaken God (Cf. Jeremiah 3:13)
c) Forgetting God (Cf. Jeremiah 3:21)
d) Treachery (idolatry) (Cf. Jeremiah 3:20)
e) Perversion (Cf. Jeremiah 3:21)
THE CHALLENGING WORK OF THE HIGH PRIESTS
Their work was to reach out to those who were ignorant and going astray. He had to train priests who must do their part in teaching and praying for people. No effort must be spared in reaching out to these people. Few high priests in the Old Testament and New Testament eras succeeded in this area of ministry.