Hebrews 10:19-25
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Some time ago, my dad and I were discussing politics in the living room while my 92 year old grandma sat quietly and listened. Because she has dementia, she often repeats the same stories and asks the same questions within just a few minutes of one another. She likely isn’t aware of most current events, but she could tell things were getting heated. After a few minutes she interrupted, “Mijo, do you know this song?” Then my beautiful grandma sang,
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
For all my family members reading this, yes, she sang it in Spanish. But regardless of the language, my grandma understood that our political discourse had completely left Jesus on the periphery. We needed a reminder to put our lives’ focus back on Jesus. My dad and I sheepishly joined in singing the beautiful song and the rage that had built up inside of us faded away as we focused on the one who humbled himself to death, even death on a cross. Now, anytime our conversations even begin to get out of hand, one of us (or my mom) will sing, “On a hill far away…” as a reminder to keep our minds on the only one who can really save us from the problems of this world.
This has been a difficult time in our communities, our nation and the world. I don’t know what issues or frustrations you may be going through, but I do know that we can “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Maybe singing George Bernard’s Old Hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” can help you to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” instead of getting caught up in issues that ultimately have little eternal value.
Dear God,
Help us to focus on you as a model of humility as we learn to live Godly lives in an ungodly world. Help us to hold on to the hope we have in you because you are the only one who will not let us down! May the hope we have be a light to those who are in darkness as they see that You are the answer to the problems of our day!
Amen
Ray Sanchez is the Pastor of Worship and Children’s Discipleship at FBC Weslaco. When he visits his grandma, he enjoys hearing her sing the songs of her youth and share her wonderful stories.