Better Together

What do you need to survive?

Air, Water, Food, Fire, Shelter?  In that order if you watch Survivor Man.

What do you need to survive if you are a scientist?  Vitamins, trace minerals, etc...

What do you need to survive as a Christian?  You need other Christians.

Hebrews moves right from admonishing us to encourage each other and meet together to warning us about sinning and falling away...


Hebrews 10:24–27 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 
    26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

The conjunctive word in this passage is "for"... Keep stirring each other up, keep encouraging, keep meeting together, do it more and more... FOR... if we go on sinning.  

Evidently some were already slipping away.  Some were going back to Judaism and the dead works of the flesh for righteousness.  And this ends in nothing but fear. 

The Christian survival guide is being around other Christians.  Stirring them up and they stirring you up.  You need a church family.  

I know when I come home from work, my family is my strength.  I know that after things haven't gone well on the job, my family is the escape and pleasure that lets me take a deep breath and move on again.  What a blessing to have a family.  But so many Christians are happily orphaned.  It's better together.

The writer says its our choice.  "Let us."  No one is going to force it on you.  You're going to have to choose to get in relationship with others... So, be an encourager, get encouragement.  But be proactive in making it happen in your life.

PRAYER:
Father, I worship and praise you.  I honor you.  I thank you for my church family.  I thank you for the relationships I have with so many people.  I ask for the protection of the Spirit from the enemy.  Keep us in the bond of peace.  In Jesus' Name.


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