Day 2: Encourage today
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).
Heavenly Father, thank You for "Today"— not only for this day in time, that You have made, that You have given to us as a gift, but for this age of grace that in Your great mercy You have set, calling it "Today" since it still remains for some to enter Your rest (Hebrews 4:6).
O Lord, through willful unbelief and stubborn rebellion, a whole generation of people did not enter into Your promised rest. Though You had brought them out of [captivity] with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, though they saw with their own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders You had done (Deuteronomy 5:15, 7:19), and though for forty years they saw what You did (Hebrews 3:9), they heard and rebelled (Hebrews 3:16). So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief (Hebrews 3:19).
In Your lovingkindness You instruct us against following their example, to end up with the same consequences, See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God... Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience (Hebrews 3:12, 4:11).
Our Father this is a sobering instruction, not to be taken lightly. It is one for which we need great support and strong reinforcement. So You ask us to encourage one another daily... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13).
O Lord, we do not know how long "Today" will last. But right now, while we still live in that hour of Your grace, we are called to share in Christ. Help us to minister to each other the hope, endurance and encouragement we all so desperately need.
Help us to hold our original conviction firmly to the end. Bind us together in the love and daily encouragement of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that none of us would lose our grip, and become hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Every hour of the passing day
Let me labor, Lord, for Thee;
While one soul in the darkness roams,
Let me never idle be.
Refrain:
Every hour, every day,
Let me do some deed of love;
Every hour, every day,
Point some soul to the world above.
Every hour of the passing day
Let me sow some precious seed;
Lift some load from a fainting soul,
Help some suff’ring one in need.
~ Daniel O. Teasley ~ 1907
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