By: Dr. Steven K. Parker
Reflection on the week:
· What has gone on in your life this week?
· How have you seen God’s hand at work?
Approaching God’s word: Spend a few moments in silent prayer and meditation, asking God to open your heart to His word for you.
Reading the text:
The author of Hebrews challenged the early church and challenges us today saying: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb 10:23–25).
Reflection on the passage:
· How might this passage speak to our current situation?
· How have we tried to be faithful to these instructions in the midst of this struggle?
Pastoral Thoughts:
During this pandemic, I’ve heard a portion of this passage cited a lot about “not neglecting to meet together.” That has been a challenging passage to uphold during this pandemic. We’ve done our best to be faithful to that instruction during this season even when meeting in-person has been limited. I’m comforted by the notion that the early church often met under duress, when and where they could, using whatever means they had available to worship and serve together. I hope God has been pleased by our best efforts because they have certainly come from a sincere desire to honor him.
While we often fixate on that one phrase, I think we tend to neglect the other parts of this instruction. If the Lord were to return today, would we be found holding “fast to the confession of our hope without wavering,” trusting in God’s faithfulness, or would we be found in doubt, worried and bothered about the trials we are facing, looking for political solutions to problems only God can guide us through? Are we stirring one another up to “love and good works” or fussing because we aren’t getting our way and we’re frustrated with our current circumstance?
My friends, “the Day is drawing near!” Will the Lord find us in the act of “encouraging one another” or tearing each other down? My earnest hope is that the former will be the case. In all of the debates of this age, no matter which political side of the isle we support, if we are not living to encourage, we are wrong by God’s perfect standard. Let us never forget that and make it our mission to be the encouragement that someone needs today. I am so grateful for the faithful encouragers God puts in my path, because He knows I need their encouragement regularly; I’ve seemed to need it even more lately! Perhaps you do too.
In God’s eyes, from the perspective of eternity, the time when we will be able to resume in-person gatherings will come very soon. The struggle of this year will one day be just a blip on the radar screen of our life. In the meantime, will we do our best to embrace the gathering of the saints, as best we can? Will we hold fast to our confession of hope in our faithful God? Will we stop “stirring the pot” for ill and commit to instead “stir up one another to love and good works?” In this broken world so full of discouraging voices, will we be people of encouragement? Lets prayerfully ask ourselves those questions and let God’s Spirit guide us to answers that would please Him.
Further Reflection:
· Re-read this passage asking God to speak to you through it.
· “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb 10:23–25).
o What are some things this passage might be telling us about how we should live?
o Is there something here God is calling us to be or to do?
Praying together:
Father, help us to cling to the hope that you have planted in our hearts through faith in Christ. Thank you for always being faithful. Show us how we might edify our church in this trying time. Forgive us for times when we behave in ways that are self-absorbed. Help us to move past those selfish tendencies and to instead “stir up one another to love and good works.” During this time of masks, social distancing, and shut downs, help us to make the most of opportunities we have for fellowship and to seize every chance you give us to encourage our sisters and brothers in faith. Set our hearts toward Christ’s sure and certain return!
Looking ahead:
We hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we begin a study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times. Please pray for our church’s leadership as we make decisions regarding the timing of our re-launch of in-person services. If you are feeling the need for face-to-face contact and want to be a part of our pre-re-launch services, please call the church office at 956-968-9585 and we will do our best to accommodate you.