Like There's No Tomorrow

Hebrews 3:12-19

The Christian faith is a community faith, one that requires men and women, the young and the old to stand together as the body of Christ at work I the world. Only when we are in relationship with others may we fully live the relationship - the covenant - we have with God. But the Christian faith is also a 'right now' faith, one that looks forward to the coming of God's reign, but which lives out its witness in the present. The book of Hebrews helps us to put this aspect of our relationship with God and with one another into focus. "...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" (Hebrew 3:13). For the writer of Hebrews there is no time like the present in which to do the work of God, in which to stand united with a common purpose, in which to act on the faith we confess. Yes, we have a sure and certain hope of what God will do in the time to come, but the call we receive is to be awake now and to exhort and care for one another on every day called "today."

Ours is a "right now" faith for in grace God entered world in the person of Jesus Christ, a real person who lived at a real time and place, but whose love continues to abound in our midst. As God's people may we live like there is no tomorrow, and may we do so with a unity of purpose.

Prayer: Gracious God, help us recognize today and everyday as a gift from you and a blessing to be cherished and shared. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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.