“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering—for He is faithful that promised. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:22-24
If there was ever a time we needed each other, it’s now. And, if there was ever a time for “enjoining exhortation,” it’s now.
As English poet John Donne once said, “No man is an island, entire of himself,” so does today’s Manna remind us of our “Let us” responsibilities. Adam and Eve were created for fellowship with God. And, in reality, they were also created for fellowship with each other—for God Himself said “It’s not good that a man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18a).
Assuredly, we are all “different” in make-up and temperament. Some are extroverts, while others are introverts. Some “never meet a stranger,” while others blush when they look in a mirror. Some are adventuresome, while others hate taking risks and love their “ruts,” which are (as someone said), “Graves with both ends kicked out.”
Even so, each one of us, who are called by Christ’s Name, are exhorted to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Then, we are called to “hold fast (Grk. ‘katecho’—‘seize, cleave or cling to, take hold of, etc.’) the profession of our faith without wavering (Grk. ‘aklines’—‘not leaning, standing firm, turn to flight, etc.’).” And, we are also to “consider (Grk. ‘katanoeo’—‘to observe fully, discover, perceive, comprehend, etc.’) one another to provoke (Grk. ‘paroxusmos’—‘to incite, contend with, stimulate, stir up, sharpen, etc.’) unto love and to good works.”
Simply put, we are to “sharpen each other’s service” to the Lord by exhortation, admonishment, reproof, etc., even as “iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17). This doesn’t mean wholesale criticism or judging; but, it does mean “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) and “in season” (Prov. 25:11; Eccl. 3:7b).
Likewise, we should not “forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” Pity the Pilgrim who feels like he can get by with fellowshipping with other believers only occasionally or once per week. Just as a blazing ember soon grows cold and the fire is extinguished when removed from the source of its heat, so is it impossible for us to stay “strong in the faith” if we “forsake the assembling of ourselves together.”
This is especially important in these days of escalating evil and increasing attacks upon those who profess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Therefore, recommit your life to Christ today in these three areas of “Let us:” “Draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. . . hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. . .and provoke each other unto love and good works through regular fellowship and mutual exhortation.” How we need it—and how a lost world without Christ needs it.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated March 21, 2010
