Hebrews 3:12-13 (NASB) says "Take care, brethren, that there not be in
any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the
living God. But encourage one another day after day...so that none of
you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
Often in my life I haven't made much effort to build relationships with believers in my church. I attend on Sunday, I care about them dearly, but I don't spend much time with them outside of our place of worship. Instead I've chosen to spend the majority of my time with people who aren't Christians. How then can I be around to give and receive encouragement "day after day"? It doesn't say weekly or bi-weekly here! I always thought I passed my time with people other than "believers" because I had a heart for the lost. And I do, but maybe that's not the only reason...
I think a big part of why I've spent so much time hanging out with unbelievers, is not only because we may have similar interests and get along well...If I'm being honest, I might admit that I hang out with them to hide a little bit. As people without similar beliefs, they don't know when I'm "doing wrong". They won't hold me to the same standards, so I don't worry so much about what they might think of me and my actions.
Man, just typing that makes me look...scuzzy, doesn't it? It's not something I'm proud to admit. It's not something I've ever even thought about before today. But I always felt I could survive just fine with whatever friends I wanted in my life. But that's not really the truth.
The truth is...I need the fellowship of my fellow believers. I need people in my life who will encourage me to stay the course, and to grow to maturity as a Christian. Compared to my unbelieving friends, I do seem quite mature. But then I spend ten minutes talking to a "grown up" Christian, and wonder how they know so much!
I also need to be able to be there for my Christian friends. They need my love and support as much as anybody else, don't they?
It's unfortunately easy to rationalize behaviors and lower expectations when we don't have any accountability. We will always be held accountable to God, but sometimes we do a good job of blocking out His voice. Sometimes, we need a friend who can tap us on the shoulder and bring areas for growth to our attention.
I don't want my brother or sister in Christ to fall away, just because I was too busy with "my own life" to encourage them. I don't want my heart to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin just because I was too afraid to let people who know what's expected of the children of God to get too close to me. The very fact that they're believers should actually make me feel more safe - they are the most forgiving group of people on the planet! After all, they believe that unless they're forgiving, they themselves won't be forgiven.
I want to be a teachable person. I want to be open to the correction and teaching of God and of my "grown up" Christian peers. I need the counsel of those mature Christians "who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14)
I don't need to fear the correction of God, and of those who "know more than I do". ..."for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" (Hebrews 12:7) It's part of being in the family! And who in the family wants to sit and watch as every other kid gets their drivers license and a new car, while they're stuck at home doing the dishes? I want to grow in faith and maturity, so that God can trust me not just with the little things. I want to be a person God can count on to be responsible and obedient with the things that mean the most, and will make the most impact on this corrupt world I (temporarily) live in.
Jesus, thank you for teaching me the importance of fellowship in maturing as a Christian. Help me to be teachable, and encouraging that I may function with my brothers and sisters to see your will fulfilled.
Often in my life I haven't made much effort to build relationships with believers in my church. I attend on Sunday, I care about them dearly, but I don't spend much time with them outside of our place of worship. Instead I've chosen to spend the majority of my time with people who aren't Christians. How then can I be around to give and receive encouragement "day after day"? It doesn't say weekly or bi-weekly here! I always thought I passed my time with people other than "believers" because I had a heart for the lost. And I do, but maybe that's not the only reason...
I think a big part of why I've spent so much time hanging out with unbelievers, is not only because we may have similar interests and get along well...If I'm being honest, I might admit that I hang out with them to hide a little bit. As people without similar beliefs, they don't know when I'm "doing wrong". They won't hold me to the same standards, so I don't worry so much about what they might think of me and my actions.
Man, just typing that makes me look...scuzzy, doesn't it? It's not something I'm proud to admit. It's not something I've ever even thought about before today. But I always felt I could survive just fine with whatever friends I wanted in my life. But that's not really the truth.
The truth is...I need the fellowship of my fellow believers. I need people in my life who will encourage me to stay the course, and to grow to maturity as a Christian. Compared to my unbelieving friends, I do seem quite mature. But then I spend ten minutes talking to a "grown up" Christian, and wonder how they know so much!
I also need to be able to be there for my Christian friends. They need my love and support as much as anybody else, don't they?
It's unfortunately easy to rationalize behaviors and lower expectations when we don't have any accountability. We will always be held accountable to God, but sometimes we do a good job of blocking out His voice. Sometimes, we need a friend who can tap us on the shoulder and bring areas for growth to our attention.
I don't want my brother or sister in Christ to fall away, just because I was too busy with "my own life" to encourage them. I don't want my heart to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin just because I was too afraid to let people who know what's expected of the children of God to get too close to me. The very fact that they're believers should actually make me feel more safe - they are the most forgiving group of people on the planet! After all, they believe that unless they're forgiving, they themselves won't be forgiven.
I want to be a teachable person. I want to be open to the correction and teaching of God and of my "grown up" Christian peers. I need the counsel of those mature Christians "who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14)
I don't need to fear the correction of God, and of those who "know more than I do". ..."for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" (Hebrews 12:7) It's part of being in the family! And who in the family wants to sit and watch as every other kid gets their drivers license and a new car, while they're stuck at home doing the dishes? I want to grow in faith and maturity, so that God can trust me not just with the little things. I want to be a person God can count on to be responsible and obedient with the things that mean the most, and will make the most impact on this corrupt world I (temporarily) live in.
Jesus, thank you for teaching me the importance of fellowship in maturing as a Christian. Help me to be teachable, and encouraging that I may function with my brothers and sisters to see your will fulfilled.
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