Encourage each other

here is the rest of Hebrews 10

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

²⁶For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³²But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. ³⁷For,

"Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
³⁸ but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him."

³⁹But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

A bigger piece perhaps than I want to really chew on this morning, but good piece to read. Last time we were together we learned about how Christ's sacrifice was once for all.

Knowing the Christ died once, for all people, can give us confidence that we can come before God. He is our high priest, nothing more needs to be done. All we need is true heart full of faith to come before God.

Have to admit, sometimes that sounds daunting to me. I am SO full of sin. How can I have a true heart coming before God? There is always a part of me wanting my own way.

These words "²²let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." draw me closer and give me hope. GOD is faithful! I can trust him and know that it is all paid for. If I come to him in repentance, believing that he will indeed forgive me and cleanse me....that's all I really need to do.

I like how the author ties in it with the next verse... because we know that we can come before God, that we can be cleansed, "let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works". One great act on our behalf SHOULD cause us to want to do good acts ourselves. :) WE should encourage each other. Being with other believers, hearing their stories of faith....isn't that an encouragement? Being stirred up and convicted by God's word being preached/taught....isn't that an encouragement? We need to be encouraged AND we need to encourage. Satan keeps trying, but God has won the war...doesn't mean it isn't hard sometimes. Do let us encourage each other to keep up the battle!

And part of that encouragement means togetherness...to not give us meeting with each other.

I have to admit, I struggle to understand folks who call themselves believers but won't come to church because they can worship God just fine all on their own. That's not the sole point of worship. Worship is a communal thing...it's praising God together, it's being encouraged by fellow believers, it's learning of God together. Our God isn't a solitary God...so why should we be solitary Christians?

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us , ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.