In Hebrews 10, there is a paragraph that contains five sentences beginning with the words “Let us.” Let’s take these “Let us” challenges to heart so that we remain strong in the Lord and strong as a church during the four months of sabbatical that we will be apart.
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart” reminds us that our hearts are to be in the right place … close to God. Unfortunately our hearts are easily divided and quickly drawn away from God in pursuit of various distractions. Our first love is the Lord, the wonderful Saviour whose famous last words grabbed our hearts so powerfully during Lent. Passionately and sincerely, put your heart near God’s heart and live your life in sync with Jesus.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” assures us that God faithfully keeps his promises. Will we faithfully keep ours? Will we live out the hope in Christ that we profess to have? Or will we betray, run away or say nay like the disciples when Jesus was arrested? The parable of the Sower teaches us that only a minority of those who are initially excited by the good news of salvation take root and bear fruit. Be one of the strong minority, faithful as he is faithful. Be a promise keeper that your family, friends, work place and church can count on.
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” gets us thinking about ways to challenge each other to love more and help more. Inspiring words can do it. Words like President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1961 when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Inspiring actions, like pitching in where we’re needed or serving where we’re wanted, can also spur others in the right direction. Resolve to be a difference maker, a positive role model for others.
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” helps us to remember the importance of just showing up. The story is told of an elderly woman in her nineties who was too deaf to get much out of the service. When asked why she still insisted on attending church, she replied, “I want people to know which side I’m on.” In the coming months, it may be tempting to stay away some Sundays because things may not be quite the same in the pastor’s absence. But when you love the Lord and love your church, you will show up if only to make sure that HFC remains “Hope Fellowship Strong!
“Let us encourage one another – and all the more so as you see the Day approaching” is the fifth and final “Let us” challenge in Hebrew 10. Encouragement is badly needed and rarely offered in our every day lives. In fact, I remember one runner who ran road races just to hear people say “You can do it” and “You’re looking great” because he never heard that kind of encouragement at work.
The most encouraging thing we have heard in our lives is that God loves us enough to send his Son to die for us. This thought “leaves me laughing like a well-loved child” (A Montreal Song, 1978, Bruce Cockburn). That’s what you and I are. Well-loved children of God. So let’s live our lives with wonder and joy until we meet again in the fall, our hearts sincere, our hope secure, our lives inspiring, our presence faithful and our encouragement constant. For God and to his glory!
- Pastor Peter
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart” reminds us that our hearts are to be in the right place … close to God. Unfortunately our hearts are easily divided and quickly drawn away from God in pursuit of various distractions. Our first love is the Lord, the wonderful Saviour whose famous last words grabbed our hearts so powerfully during Lent. Passionately and sincerely, put your heart near God’s heart and live your life in sync with Jesus.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” assures us that God faithfully keeps his promises. Will we faithfully keep ours? Will we live out the hope in Christ that we profess to have? Or will we betray, run away or say nay like the disciples when Jesus was arrested? The parable of the Sower teaches us that only a minority of those who are initially excited by the good news of salvation take root and bear fruit. Be one of the strong minority, faithful as he is faithful. Be a promise keeper that your family, friends, work place and church can count on.
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” gets us thinking about ways to challenge each other to love more and help more. Inspiring words can do it. Words like President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1961 when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Inspiring actions, like pitching in where we’re needed or serving where we’re wanted, can also spur others in the right direction. Resolve to be a difference maker, a positive role model for others.
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” helps us to remember the importance of just showing up. The story is told of an elderly woman in her nineties who was too deaf to get much out of the service. When asked why she still insisted on attending church, she replied, “I want people to know which side I’m on.” In the coming months, it may be tempting to stay away some Sundays because things may not be quite the same in the pastor’s absence. But when you love the Lord and love your church, you will show up if only to make sure that HFC remains “Hope Fellowship Strong!
“Let us encourage one another – and all the more so as you see the Day approaching” is the fifth and final “Let us” challenge in Hebrew 10. Encouragement is badly needed and rarely offered in our every day lives. In fact, I remember one runner who ran road races just to hear people say “You can do it” and “You’re looking great” because he never heard that kind of encouragement at work.
The most encouraging thing we have heard in our lives is that God loves us enough to send his Son to die for us. This thought “leaves me laughing like a well-loved child” (A Montreal Song, 1978, Bruce Cockburn). That’s what you and I are. Well-loved children of God. So let’s live our lives with wonder and joy until we meet again in the fall, our hearts sincere, our hope secure, our lives inspiring, our presence faithful and our encouragement constant. For God and to his glory!
- Pastor Peter
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