Friday's Follow-up
Versus
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Pondering Point
Re-read Hebrews 10:19-25 above. Here are some points from Scripture to focus on today:
- Let’s draw near to God (with sincere hearts)
- Let’s hold on (to our hope in God who is faithful)
- Let’s consider (how to inspire each other to godly lives)
- Let’s not give up (meeting together)
- Let’s encourage one another (with Jesus’ returning soon)
Which one catches your attention the most? Why might that be?
Prayer
Father God, show me how to partner with my fellow believers and benefit from drawing near to You. I want to remain hopeful in Your faithfulness and inspire others till You bring me home. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Group (MG) Moment
Considering our spiritual act of worship
as part of the life of a disciple of Jesus:
Just as corporate worship (generally Sundays) is centered on God, all of lives are to be centered around Him, His word, and His will for our lives – our spiritual act of worship as Paul calls it in Romans 12.
During the week, expect God to be communicating; expect to receive blessings from God through His Word (read, heard, remembered) and His body (interacting with other Christian friends and family). The Holy Spirit uses these and other life experiences to love you, bless you, shape you, use you, draw you to Himself – all kinds of things.
This is God’s heart for people, which we get a glimpse of through these words of Jesus:
Luke 13:34
How often I have longed to gather [you] together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
Those bold words of Jesus, hard-hitting as they may be, are quite telling: Just as church members don’t benefit from corporate worship without actually being there, neither do we automatically benefit from daily worship opportunities (personal, cultivating, or group relationships) without actually engaging in them during our week.
This is why, at Hope, we highly encourage you to create space for such opportunities rather than merely hoping they happen. We encourage you to build God into your daily life as an act of worship.
The question comes to ask: Is He worthy of this kind of intentionality? You already know Hope’s answer, but you must make that decision yourself, not just in word, but in deed. As the disciple John says, "let’s not love with words or speech (only) but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
Prayer
Father God, I ask that Your Holy Spirit helps me put my faith and love into action by living a life of worship daily and founded in the truth of Your Word. May I continue to gather with my brothers and sisters in Christ as a form of mutual encouragement as well. In Jesus I pray. Amen.