Make Today Your Day!

September 18, 2020

Make Today Your Day!

Hebrews 3:12–19

Linda Green

Central Truth

Believe.

Obey.

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.

12 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. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Take the slaves out of Egypt, check. Taking Egypt out of the slaves, umm, no. Except for Joshua and Caleb, the first generation of Israelites led by Moses had to die in the desert. No Promised Land, no rest.

It is possible to say "no" to God one too many times. Though He is incredibly patient and wants all to know Him (2 Peter 3:9), some of God's offers are time-sensitive.

These verses remind us to encourage one another every day, to believe and obey our Good Father. This is not always a fun task when someone like me is determined to go her own way.

What leads us away from God? It always starts with unbelief (Hebrews 3:12). More sin then follows, our heart hardens toward God, and we are in dangerous territory. Note to self: I can choose the sin, but not the consequences.

Discontent has been my default for most of my life. When young, I wanted to be older; in college, graduated; raising kids, more me time; at work, to be home—you get the picture. When Hebrews 3:15 would come up, I'd feel the Holy Spirit prompting, "Today . . . ." But I didn't listen. I tried to make everything about selfish me and my plans.

That's what the Israelites did, they made it all about themselves (their wants, anxieties, and fears) instead of believing Almighty God and His ability to provide for them.

And that generation missed out. He promised to bring them out of slavery, lead them through the terrifying wilderness to the Promised Land, and then give them rest.

Why did they refuse? They just didn't believe He would.

Isn't that why I didn't listen or obey? And still sometimes don't? I ignore Jeremiah 32:27. Or, instead of believing God, I choose an idol (or the big "I") to save me. But that's Jesus' job!

If you know God is telling you to do something through prayer, His Word, and godly counsel, just do it. Believe our good God. Let's encourage one another to set our big self and any idols aside, and O-B-E-Y. Today. We may not get a tomorrow.

1. What lie am I believing that keeps me from being "all in" with God? What idol do I think could save me? (Maybe money, intelligence, work, status, looks, a relationship, or ?)

2. Have you said "yes" to Jesus as Savior—to give Him your sin and trust Him to make you right with God because of the cross? (Romans 10:9-11)

That is the most important thing for you to do today. Don't wait—your life forever depends on it.

3. How could you encourage someone who is "fall[ing] away from the Living God" (Hebrews 3:12)?

A great anonymous quote: "A source of incredible temptation is a friend who cares more for my comfort than for my character."

Share below in the comments if you have found an effective way to encourage a straying friend to believe and follow God or maybe how someone shared with you when you had left the good path.

4. Whom do you need to encourage today to believe our Good Father?