In case you forget, here’s a reminder:

The Verse of the Day for May 18, 2023, on Biblegate.com comes from the Book of Hebrews where we find a reminder of who God is not as well as who God is:

Hebrews 6:10 (New Living Translation):

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

The opening phrase makes known that God is not unjust. On the contrary, God is just. One translation of the first part of Hebrews 6:10 states, “God is fair . . .” The Psalmist declares, “The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

Psalm 145:17 (AMP) notes:

The Lord is [unwaveringly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and kind in all His works.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (NKJV) says this:

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

The Verse of the Day goes on to say “For God is not unjust so as to forget. . .” How well we have come to learn that God does not forget, except He does not remember our sins and shortcomings, as Hebrews 10:17 (AMP) reminds us that in certain areas of our lives God has “selective amnesia”:

“And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].”

Hebrews 8:12 (AMP) reiterates this message:’

“For I will be merciful and gracious toward their wickedness, and I will remember their sins no more.”

Though God does not remember our sins and iniquity, He is mindful of us and does remember this:

He has given food to those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence]; He will remember His covenant forever.

Ezekiel 16:60 (AMP) makes known God’s covenant relationship with His people:

[The Covenant Remembered] “Nevertheless, I will remember [with compassion] my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

As believers we endeavor to serve God and minister to one another, but we must remember this: Our efforts may not always be recognized nor appreciated. Those whom we serve in love may not always remember what we say and do, but we are assured that God never forgets. Not only is God, our Father, faithful and just, but He is also a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

The Verse of the Day inspired this original psalm:

A Reminder: God Is Faithful

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love,   

which you have shown toward his name,        

in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister.

 Hebrews 6:10

The good deeds that you have done may not be extolled

When the fervor of God’s love has long since grown cold.

Some quickly forget all the good that you have done

And fail to recall that you were the only one

To answer the call, seek the Lord, and intercede.

Time after time you were the one to meet the need.

When others were busy and chose to walk away,

You were there and remained in the thick of the fray.

In dark times when words of thanks are distant memories,

Recall that God knows all things, for He alone sees

Your labor and saves all the tears that you have shed.

Our Father is ever mindful of how you serve,

And He shall reward you beyond all you deserve.

As you strive to finish your course, have no regret:

Our God is faithful–He will never forget.

This medley from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir musically reinforces the message of the Verse of the Day: He’s Been Faithful and Great is Thy Faithfulness:

A Triptych from Hebrews 6: Take a look

This morning while listening to a YouTube recording of peaceful relaxation music for meditation, one of the accompanying verses arrested my attention and brought to mind three verses from Hebrews 6:10-12. These verses inspired three poems which when connected together form “A Triptych from Hebrews 6.” OxfordDictionaries.com offers this definition of the term “triptych”: “A set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical works intended to be appreciated together.” WordNet 3.6 provides this definition of triptych art, as “art consisting of a painting or carving (especially an altarpiece) on three panels (usually hinged together).” Here is an example taken from the same source: a cathedral door in Seville, Spain.

ONE LEAF OF A TRIPTYCH IN CATHEDRAL OF SEVILLE

Over the next three days, I will feature a blog post inspired by one the verses from Hebrews 6:10-12. The first panel of this collection appeared in a recent blog post, “Each sunrise reminds us God is faithful” Here is an excerpt:

In Hebrews 6:10 (New Living Translation) we find another reminder that God is faithful and that He is not unjust

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

As believers we endeavor to serve God and minister to one another. Our efforts may not always be recognized nor appreciated. Those whom we serve in love may not always remember what we say and do, but we are assured that God never forgets. Not only is God, our Father, faithful and just, but He is also a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6), as the following poetic comments illustrate:

A Reminder: God Is Faithful

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love,

which you have shown toward his name, in that you have ministered

to the saints and do minister.

Hebrews 6:10

All the good deeds you have done may not be extolled

When the fervor of God’s love has long since grown cold.

Some so quickly forget all the good you have done,

And they fail to recall you were the only one

To answer the call, seek the Lord and intercede.

Time after time you were the one to meet the need.

When others were busy and chose to walk away,

You were there and remained in the thick of the fray.

In dark times when words of thanks are distant memories,

Recall our God knows all things, for He alone sees

Your labor and saves every tear you have shed.

Our Father is ever mindful of how you serve,

And He shall reward you beyond all you deserve.

As you strive to finish your course, have no regret:

Our God is faithful–He will never forget.

In reflecting upon God’s faithfulness as expressed in the Word of God, I thought of this medley of two songs that have come to mean so much to me: “He’s Been Faithful” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness” offered by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir:

Three poems from Hebrews 6

Recently a blog entry featured three poems focusing on a single theme which I called a “Triptych on the Will of God.” The entry went on to explain the term “triptych” as “a set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical works intended to be appreciated together.” In this case, the three poems, two original works and a third by an anonymous author, all touched upon “The Will of God.” Most remarkably, I looked closely at the Verse of the Day for May 18, 2018, and I recalled another “Triptych from Hebrews 6” begin with verse 10:

Hebrews 6:10

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

As believers we endeavor to serve God and minister to one another, but we must remember this: Our efforts may not always be recognized nor appreciated. Those whom we serve in love may not always remember what we say and do, but we are assured that God never forgets. Not only is God, our Father, faithful and just, but He is also a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

The Verse of the Day also inspired this response:

A Reminder: God Is Faithful

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love,
which you have shown toward his name,
in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Hebrews 6:10

The good deeds that you have done may not be extolled
When the fervor of God’s love has long since grown cold.
Some quickly forget all the good that you have done
And fail to recall that you were the only one
To answer the call, seek the Lord, and intercede.
Time after time you were the one to meet the need.
When others were busy and chose to walk away,
You were there and remained in the thick of the fray.
In dark times when words of thanks are distant memories,
Recall that God knows all things, for He alone sees
Your labor and saves all the tears that you have shed.
Our Father is ever mindful of how you serve,
And He shall reward you beyond all you deserve.
As you strive to finish your course, have no regret:
Our God is faithful–He will never forget.

Hebrews 6:11 goes on to offer these words of encouragement:

11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.

Believers are encouraged to demonstrate or put forth the same diligent effort that will be reward if we do not faint. The Scriptures also remind us to be “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Hebrews 6:11 along with lyrics from the traditional gospel song heard countless times in my formative years, “We’ve Come this Far by Faith,” introduce the second piece in the “triptych”:

This Far by Faith

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence

to the full assurance of hope until the end,

“We have come this far by faith.”

Traditional Black Gospel Song

 

Though we see truth, there is the rest of the story,
As we strive to be all that God called us to be,
Created to be to the praise of His glory,
We walk by faith and not by what we can see.
We now rise above to view life from God’s grand scope:
Each day our faith will increase and not diminish.
With diligence to the full assurance of hope,
We will complete our course, striving toward the finish.
A great cloud of witnesses surround us to cheer
Us on from faith to faith and victory to victory.
The mighty hand of our gracious God brought us here,
For such a time as this—behold our destiny.
As we press toward the mark, we must not lose our gait.
Lyrics remind us “We have come this far by faith.”

In a previous blog post on patience as a fruit of the spirit that seemed to be in season during this season of my life, I thought of apples as I was discussing the reference to the farmer waiting patiently for the harvest described in James chapter 5. In my research on apples and harvesting them in their season, most remarkably, I also came across an endorsement from someone who had sampled apples from, of all places, “Farmer Johnson Apple Orchards” in Washington State.

Just as apples were at that time in season in the natural at “Farmer Johnson’s Apple Orchards”, so in the spirit, patience is the fruit I am endeavoring to perfect in this my season. Moreover, I personally identify with “Farmer Johnson,” as revealed in the third poem of the “triptych” from Hebrews 6:12:

Farmer Johnson

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them

who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:12

 

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Lyrics by Joseph H. Gilmore

 

Farmer Johnson owns orchards in Washington State.
His apples are renowned and said to be the best.
As scriptures remind us to labor and to rest,
This Farmer Johnson is patient and learns to wait
For the bountiful fruit of his harvest season.
Patience now abounds to complete and perfect me,
As I walk by faith, despite all that I may see.
I assess my times and unfold the real reason
For all the trials and seeming setbacks that came.
At times I felt as though being torn asunder
But like Job, I still abide and bear up under.
God yet delivers those who call upon His name.
Committed to go wherever the Lord shall send,
A faithful follower, I endure to the end.

As we close the “Triptych from Hebrews 6,” we are strengthened and reassured by the lyrics from the hymn composed by Charles Gabriel: “Sweet is the promise. I will not forget thee.”

 

Three poems from Hebrews 6

In this past Sunday morning’s message at Christian Provision Ministries in Sanford, NC, Bishop Charles Mellette delivered a powerful teaching, as part of a series: “God is Our Source.” This particular lesson offered the subtitle: “Help is on the Way” and provided this objective: “to empower and encourage you to trust God in challenging times.” In the course of the teaching, Bishop Mellette focused on three verses from Hebrews 6:10-12. I wrote in my notes to check out the three poems that I had written a few years, inspired by these very verses.

As I read over the poems, I noted that they are part of a collection connected to “Knowing God’s Will.” In fact, the three poetic works were part of a series that I called a “Triptych on the Will of God.” OxfordDictionaries.com offers this definition of the term “triptych”: “A set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical works intended to be appreciated together.” WordNet 3.6 provides this definition of triptych art, as “art consisting of a painting or carving (especially an altarpiece) on three panels (usually hinged together).” Here is an example taken from the same source:

ONE LEAF OF A TRIPTYCH IN CATHEDRAL OF SEVILLE

The three attached poems in my triptych are inspired by quotations and verses from Hebrews 6:10-12

A Reminder: God Is Faithful

 

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love,

which ye have shown toward his name,

in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Hebrews 6:10

The good deeds that you have done may not be extolled

When the fervor of God’s love has long since grown cold.

Some quickly forget all the good that you have done

And fail to recall that you were the only one

To answer the call, seek the Lord and intercede.

Time after time you were the one to meet the need.

When others were busy and chose to walk away,

You were there and remained in the thick of the fray.

In dark times when words of thanks are distant memories,

Recall that God knows all things, for He alone sees

Your labor and saves all the tears that you have shed.

Our Father is ever mindful of how you serve,

And He shall reward you beyond all you deserve.

As you strive to finish your course, have no regret:

Our God is faithful–He will never forget.

Hebrews 6:10 is graphically illustrated in this video clip:

The second in the series takes its title from a familiar gospel song that I vividly recall in my formative years in the 1950s along with the second verse from Hebrews 6:

This Far by Faith

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence                            

to the full assurance of hope until the end,                               

Hebrews 6:11

                                        

“We have come this far by faith.”

Traditional Black Gospel Song

 

Though we see truth, there is still the rest of the story,

As we strive to be all that God called us to be.

Created to be to the praise of His glory,

We walk by faith and not by what we can see.

We now rise above to view life from God’s grand scope:

Each day our faith will increase and not diminish.

With diligence to the full assurance of hope,

We will complete our course, striving toward the finish.

A great cloud of witnesses surround us to cheer

Us on from faith to faith and victory to victory.

The mighty hand of our gracious God brought us here,

For such a time as this—behold our destiny.

As we press toward the mark, we must not lose our gait.

Lyrics remind us “We have come this far by faith.”

Voices of Hope, a wonderful choir from Los Angeles under the direction of Thurston Frazier offer the title selection:

The third poem in the series was inspired as I was working on an article related to patience, as the fruit of the spirit that was in season at the time that I wrote it. Entitled “Farmer Johnson,” the poem is also related to the passage on patience found in James 5:7-9 which speaks of the farmer who plants, patiently waiting for the bountiful harvest. In the poem I also make reference to an actual apple orchard. Most remarkably, I also came across an endorsement from someone who had sampled the apples from “Farmer Johnson Apple Orchards” in Washington State. The individual commented, “I have had the opportunity to try all the varieties of Farmer Johnson apples, they are the best apples I have ever tasted. Fresh, crisp…. the perfect apple.” I couldn’t help but smile, as I reflected upon my desire to be “neither barren nor unfruitful” but to be productive and highly fruitful in all my endeavors. Just as apples are now in season in the natural at “Farmer Johnson’s Apple Orchards”, so in the spirit, patience is the fruit I am endeavoring to perfect during this my present season. Hebrews 6:12 serves as the introductory verse along with lyrics from a familiar hymn “He Leadeth Me”

Farmer Johnson

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who

through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:12

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Lyrics by Joseph H. Gilmore

Farmer Johnson owns orchards in Washington State.

His apples are renowned and said to be the best.

As scriptures remind us to labor and to rest,

This Farmer Johnson is patient and learns to wait

For the bountiful fruit of his harvest season.

Patience now abounds to complete and perfect me,

As I walk by faith, despite all that I may see,

I assess my times and unfold the real reason

For all the trials and seeming setbacks that came.

At times I felt as though being torn asunder

But like Job, I still abide and bear up under.

God yet delivers those who call upon His name.

Committed to go wherever the Lord shall send,

A faithful follower, enduring to the end.

The last line brings to mind another vintage hymn from childhood days and beyond: “He Leadeth Me,” as iworship offers a stirring rendition of this memorable song: