"Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? But with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief."
Partners & Confidence! I understand that partnerships are close relationships working together for a common goal. Having confidence in something means that you trust. It's something that you can rely on. Put these two together (especially in the same sentence) and you've got something... a trusted close relationship at work!
The writer continues the encouragement from yesterday's reflection, explaining that we take caution that we care for one another in a way that encourages faith and belief. There is a sense of urgency implied when the writer days TODAY! Not tomorrow, not the next day, don't wait, do it today. Why? Because we are partners that are entrusted with the message of Good News. So we should listen for God and act! We are reminded of the whining that the Hebrews did in the wilderness. We remember the stories of those who did not trust God and complained. I have always heard it said that it didn't take 40 years to get the Hebrews out of Egypt... it took 40 years to get Egypt out of the Hebrews! :) Until they trusted God, they were unable to enter the promised land.
The call to action for me today is to listen... and then with faith and confidence that my partner, Jesus, has my back, to act boldly on what I hear God calling me to do. Like so much of the Christian life, this isn't for me alone it is for me to invite all others into this faithful living so that they too will gain confidence and faith and learn to trust in God.
No comments:
Post a Comment