Jesus: Our Maturity

This week, the author of Hebrews pauses in his sermon to issue a strong and sobering warning to his readers. If they do not continue in faith and grow to maturity but instead fall away, they will be forever lost. He explains that this process doesn't happen overnight, but begins with simple dullness and can ultimately end in deconversion.

How are we to receive such a rebuke? Like it's coming from a friend. Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy." As someone who genuinely loves his listeners, the author is not trying to harm them, but help them. Although he uses such stern language, he also expresses great confidence in them and explains how we can keep growing to maturity.