Thursday, November 1

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

"See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.  We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end." (Hebrews 3:12-14)

The first three chapters of Hebrews introduce the reader to the superiority of Jesus Christ, highlighting His standing above both angels and Moses.  Chapters 4 to 6 then review the promise of God's rest for His people and how it involved not just physical and temporal components, but also spiritual and eternal ones.  Later, the author details how the Priesthood of Jesus Christ offers a once-for-all guarantee of a new covenant.  The book ends with encouragement to persevere and to take heart in the testimony of the saints and God's faithfulness.  I love the Book of Hebrews!

In this passage above and in other sections of the book, the author emphasizes the corporate nature of our faith.  Oftentimes in Wedtern culture, we may spend our time and energy focusing on our individual faith, considering others as only "bit players" in our story.  We might focus on our identity as a "child of God," not stopping to reflect that this identity actually then bonds us to other such children as a family.

The author of Hebrews encourages us to pursue our faith as a group.  He implies that, as Christ-followers, we bear responsibility for maintaining our trust in God so that we may testify to the group.  Those who "turn away" start with a "sinful, unbelieving" heart.  This call here to guard our hearts concerns not only us, but also the broader family of God.

We are called to encourage one another daily so that all might perservere.  The author of Hebrews mentions this concern about finishing well several times in the book, most notably in Hebrews 11 and 12.  The hope set before us and the testimony of Jesus's faithfulness carry us on, and they are great starting points for encouraging one another daily.

Hebrews reminds us that we grow stronger as a unified body, not as separated parts.  If you were to take an inventory, how are you doing in encouraging others to follow Christ?  How are you seeking daily encouragement?

Lord God, thank You for providing us with the testimony of Hebrews.  We seek to honor You today by trusting You.  Thank You for Your great faithfulness that never wavers or runs dry.  Thank You also for the family of God and for allowing us to encourage one another daily.  Give us the strength and courage to pursue our calling as a unified body—both at Grace Church and beyond. In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.