Today's Exhortation

Hebrews 3:12-19
This morning I was struck by a verse in our reading from Hebrews. “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). Apparently this wasn’t the first time verse 13 had caught my eye because I had already underlined it in my Bible. So what’s so special about it?

I think it is just the turn of phrase we find there that has caught my eye. We should “exhort one another every day” to avoid disbelief and the “deceitfulness of sin.” And we should continue to exhort each other as long as it is “today.” First of all, it is always “today” which is just another way of saying “right now” or “at this time.” Which also means that it never becomes a matter of history or of future alone, but is always set in the current time, the present tense. The community of faith that exhorts one another and holds each other accountable may well be looking ahead to the coming reign of God, and should be mindful of where it has been by God’s grace. But that same community should take care to live and act in the present moment, for as long as there are present moments. This isn’t a matter of living just for today, it is a matter of taking stock of where we are and what is going on, and then responding appropriately.

Exhort one another every day and every “today” as long as there are “today’s.” Be open to what is happening now even as you look ahead to the future and remember the past. Hold the present moment as a precious gift, something to be celebrated and used to its fullness, but always be ready and willing to let the next moment come along, and the next, and the next. For in that way the work of God is always contemporary and fresh, and is always a number one priority of the people of God.

Prayer: Lord, help us to use the present moment as a time for building community and praising your name. In Jesus Christ, Amen.