It Starts Small

Many believe that Paul is the author of Hebrews. The author starts a three-step process to moving the reader to be roused spiritually and start moving forward.

The first step is in today’s verse for the January Scripture writing plan: His Mercies are New each day. The author writes. “let us draw near…” He is saying take advantage of coming before the Lord. Come to the Lord believing without any doubt, knowing that our sins are forgiven, and remembering God is faithful and merciful to forgive. In Jewish custom, cleanliness was essential. Before the priests ever set foot inside the sanctuary, they would ritually cleans their hands and feet. The same was true for anyone who entered a home. You removed your footwear, cleansed your feet and hands. 

He is not talking about physical cleaning, but spiritual cleaning. When we come before the Lord we can be confident He will wash our hearts clean and forgive our trespasses against Him. The Lord wants us to come to Him with repentance from our lacksidasical attitudes and meet Him in prayer. 

 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

The second step, He writes, “hold on to the confession.” Paul uses this same phrase five times before this. Apparently, lacksidasical drifting had become a problem. God wants us to show by our conduct that what He promises, we take serious and believe. The authors is saying in a sense, remember the conviction in the awesome hope of your calling. 

We tend to let the world get the best of us. We let it get us down. We stumble. We put on the attitude of, “What is the point?” Just as they early Christians, the author exhorts them to continue to persevere in the grace God has already shown them and to not waste it. He is telling them to look froward and to be persistent. God is faithful to His promises. 

  ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 

Hebrews 10:24

Finally the author uses a very particular word here. He says, “consider.” The use is very empathetic. He urges each of us to think upon and strive for unity by giving conscientious care to each other. He wants us to pay attention to each other’s circumstances, trials, tribulation, tests, weaknesses and needs with a heart of empathy. The author is saying, we need to fire each other up in encouragement to promote the love God has for us and to carry out our responsibilities. How do we do this? We do this by setting the example. We live our lives intentionally for God through acts of kindness and expressions of appreciation for all God is and who He is. 

We can sum these three verses up and three simple words: faith, hope, and love! Notice the author is calls upon the three biggest virtues of a Christian! The virtues determine our relationship with God or the lack of. 

We can come to God at any moment in today and have the assurance and confident, He is who He says He is! No matter what we need to repent, He forgives. He washes us clean as snow and we can bring our hearts and petitions to Him with confidence He cares and wants to be involved int he bigger picture of our lives!