"As Long As It's Called Today..."

"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. For we have come to share in Christ..."
— Hebrews 3:13-14

There are a lot of different images and ideas that enter our minds when we think of the church. Some of them are biblical. Some of them are likely not. Whatever we conceive of when considering the church, the writer of Hebrews adds a dimension most of us would never consider: and that's the church as a daily presence and reality in our lives.

"Exhort one another daily, as long as it's called 'today'." Most of us consider the weekly rhythm of church as more than sufficient. But the biblical writers knew that our actual need eclipses our felt need.

We are all of us self-sufficient... until we're not. We need daily reminders of the ultimate reality of the gospel; daily reassurances of the grace which has come to us; daily encouragement to take the next step or do the next right thing; daily reinforcement that we are not alone; and daily help to stand firm and hold fast.

We need daily fellowship with the Father and His other children, whether we feel it or not, whether we know it or not. That need is not diminished in this season of exile... it is amplified. And yet, Christian love and responsibility strangely prevent us from being together today.

We are meeting in groups and for prayer virtually and streaming sermons live on Sundays. But these are not of daily benefit to us because they are not a daily realities for us. We need the daily presence of the risen Jesus and the daily presence of His living body. And just as Jesus ministers to us in his physical absence by his living word, so we are called to minister to one another with our life-giving words.

So, starting tomorrow, we are taking Hebrews 3:13 and each other seriously enough to be an articulated daily presence in each others lives. Every weekday morning, as long as it's called "today," we'll have a new post on the blog from one of your brothers or sisters who is opening their heart and life to you in order to help you in yours. "For we have come to share in Christ." And we need to be reminded of that... daily.

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