Scripture
23Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25
Observation
The author of Hebrews was writing to Jewish Christians who were enduring the tyrannical reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. He made Christians the cultural scapegoats of the day and would regularly torture and kill them publicly for sport. It’s in this context that many Jewish Christians were considering leaving their fresh faith in Christ to go back to the seeming safety of Jewish tradition. Hebrews spends much of its time reminding the believers of the superiority of Jesus over every other system and pursuit. Just continuing to gather together for worship was a risk, but we read here of how consistent gathering was essential for faithful living in dark times. Instead of resigning from their commitments to gather and serve each other Hebrews is calling them to recommit with even greater consistency. What happens when they gather can’t be found anywhere else:
Affirmation- When hope is wavering and our grip is loosening we need others to affirm that God can be trusted to keep His promise. When looking down look around.
Motivation- When we are worn and weary we tend to look inward. Gathering to serve others through love and good works provides motivation for living outside of self preservation. When looking inward look outward.
Confirmation- When we see we are not alone in our struggle we receive the confirmation we need that we are on the right track despite the suffering. When looking outward look upward.
Application
Though Christians in the U.S. are not under persecution as so many other brothers and sisters are around the world, and now in Canada, there are many who are resigning from their commitments to their Christian faith. As churches have reopened after the COVID shut down many are seeing a 40% drop from their pre-covid attendance and participation. This is interesting considering new studies just revealing that 40% of workers are contemplating quitting their jobs. Economists are calling it “The Great Resignation”. “According to one article it’s just part of the grieving process that everyone is going through. After a year of reevaluating and readjusting, we’re collectively entering what psychologists say is the 6th stage of grief: a pursuit of meaning and purpose. And this pursuit of meaning and purpose is causing many people to reconsider why they do what they do.”(Jenny Catron) In other words, they are rediscovering their “why” and it may or may not be found in their current work environment. The author of Hebrews was reminding the Jewish Christians of their “why” which is easy to forget in the midst of suffering and persecution. Their “why”, our “why” as 21st Century Christians is the same- Jesus Every Day! Our pursuit of Jesus where we wake, work, and worship clearly includes a commitment to gathering with the saints. This is where we find the affirmation, motivation, and confirmation that we so desperately need to stay rooted in faith in an uprooted world. This is our “why” at The Father’s House- Jesus Every Day- Connecting the reality of Christ to every person in our every day life! Now is not the time to quit the church, but instead to be The Church! Instead of resigning from this purpose it’s time for us to recommit because we can only do this if we do this together!
Prayer
There’s always a remnant Lord. A small group of people who stand firm in their faith and refuse to bow down or back down from what You’ve called us to do and be in these last days. Thank you for the amazing people at The Father’s House and all throughout The Church who are pressing in while so many passing by. After so much time when we couldn’t see each other at all, I’m so thankful for fellow believers who build me up while so much is working to tear me down. May I never take the gathering of the saints for granted again.
Commenti