Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
If I hoard all the blueberries, a particular temptation of mine, then these things will result. I will be alone, having alienated my family. I will be the sole owner of rotten blueberries. Finally, I will have lost the benefit of having people with me to point out that I should share the blueberries and gently bring me back to good graces. It is the same in the church and the author of Hebrews masterfully spells it out here. He was less subtle in chapter 10, telling us not to forsake meeting together, but here he shows us the benefits and pitfalls associated with it.
When we gather together at Cape Community Church, we are less liable to falling away because we are not left alone to our own devices and desires. We are taught and exhorted by each other. We share our wisdom and experience with each other, not hoarding it so it becomes stale inside us. I heard great conversations about the Lord this past Sunday after church. The danger of sin is ever present but when we are present together, so is the Lord in our midst. Let us not forsake these benefits of discipleship.
Dear Lord, thank you for the church where we can gather and share our journeys together. May we never become isolated and alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church