Luke 11:1. A Sermon.

Hebrews 3:12-13. A Devotion.

When we come to Hebrews 3, the author of Hebrews is preaching by pen on Psalm 95. He is exalting Jesus as more faithful than Moses who was faithful as a servant in the household of God. Jesus, however, was faithful as a Son over God's house, and we Christians are that house "if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end," (v. 6).

The opposite of holding fast and keeping firm to the end was that rebellious generation that perished during Israel's wilderness wandering. Set free from Egyptian slavery, protected through the Red Sea, provided for in the wilderness, they still didn't trust God. They rebelled against Him. They preferred Egypt. They never entered the Promised Land. They did not hold fast. They did not keep firm until the end.

When I talk to Bro. Wayne on the phone, he always ends with two words, "Hold tight." That's the right advice when it comes to Jesus. We must hold fast to Him. We must keep our devotion to Him firm until the end. That's the admonition of Hebrews 3:12-13...

12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

That rebellious generation of Israelites that perished in the wilderness fell away because of their unbelieving hearts. We are to take care, to make sure, that doesn't happen to us. How? Notice v. 13, "...encourage one another day after day..." Encourage one another to do what? To keep following Jesus! To keep firm our commitment to Him until the end! To hold tight!

Being separated from one another as we are, we have to be very intentional about this. We used to receive that encouragement, that exhortation, just from seeing one another in church week after week. But now we must intentionally make a phone call, send a text message, shoot an email, hop on Zoom, write a letter, or send a card.

Who can you exhort or encourage this week?

How will you do it?

Write it down, and follow through.

Together, let's hold tight.

Luke 10:38-42. A Sermon.