Pastor column: The challenge we face today - be faithful
Hebrews 10 contains some very important challenges, identified by three “let us” commands. These “let us” statements tell us something we should do or avoid doing. I want to consider these “let us” commands because they teach us about being faithful. These verses give us a glimpse into what genuinely born again people do when they are a part of the local church.
The first challenge is to “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (vs. 22). Based on what Jesus did for us, on the cross, and what He has provided for us, we are challenged to “draw near.”
The call is for us to come with “a true heart.” We must be “sincere” when we come to Jesus. We can come in “full assurance of faith.” This means we can come to God with the full assurance that He will receive us. The question that comes to mind at this point is this: What have you done with the Gospel invitation? Have you accepted it? If you have, then you have access to God the Father. Make good use of that privilege.
The second challenge is to “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (vs. 23). This means that since we claim to have faith in Jesus and we are saved, we are to live out that hope by being faithful to Him. God challenges us to “hold fast” to our hope because hope is an anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:19-20).
The third challenge is to “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (vs. 24-25). The church is the Body of Christ, here in the world to do His will and He wants us to be fully committed to His church. That means … showing-up, growing-up and building-up!
God commands us to be committed to the church assembly. Sadly many people have gotten the idea that church doesn't matter. But they didn't get that idea from God! The fact is you can't be a healthy, happy, renewed Christian by avoiding going to church.
In verse 24, we are to “provoke” one another to “love” and “good works.” Verse 25 tells us to be “exhorting (or encouraging) one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” God wants us to encourage each other, helping each other to be all that we can be in Jesus. And we can help each other. Every single one of us can be a blessing to the Lord's Church.
These “let us” commands teach us what the faithful people of God do with their lives. This is what the faithful do. Does this describe you?
Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Pastor column: Challenges faced by the faithful
