Today’s reading is Hebrews 3:1-4:16.

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 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” (Hebrews 3:12-13).

I must take care that I do not fall away from the living God. I must do that. But, I can’t help but see that I don’t have to do it alone. Instead, we must do it together. We must encourage one another. We must exhort one another. We must help one another. Otherwise we will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

I need others. I need others to encourage me. I need others to build me up. I need others to exhort me. But, of course, if I will gain this from others, I have to open up to them. Certainly, the general nature of encouragement can be helpful. But I do know I receive a lot more help from those who know what I deal with in specific rather than just the general. I’m so glad I’ve got brothers who know me and still are willing to encourage me.

Thank you, God, for brethren.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Acts 3:1-4:37.

“When they were released, they went to their friend and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them” (Acts 4:23).

It must have been a little frightening to be arrested for teaching about Jesus. They must have at least endured a little temptation to give up. What was the first thing they did? They went to their friends.

This is why choosing my friends is so important. I need to make sure that my best friends, the ones I’m going to lean on when trouble strikes, will support me in the right direction. If my best friends are in the world or, even as Christians, pursuing the flesh, when trouble strikes and temptation hits, the support I get won’t point me in the right direction. I need friends who are striving to walk by the Spirit who will lift me up and help me follow Christ even when I’m arrested for teaching in His name.

Praise God for the great friends I have who are walking by the Spirit, who can advise and pray with me. Of course, this means I have to do what these apostles did. I actually have to go to them when the trouble and temptation strikes instead of holding it on the inside.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Philippians 1:1-2:30.

Sometimes, I learn that the chapter and verse breaks were simply unfortunate. In today’s reading, I noticed a pattern from Philippians 1:27-2:18. Prior to that section, Paul was talking about his own circumstances and how he was able to find joy despite what was going on his life. After that section, he wrote about the companions he hoped to send to Philippi. It would have been easier to notice this if this section had been a chapter all by itself.

In this section, he has two parallel movements. Notice in Philippians 1:27 his statement about how the Philippians should walk whether he is present or absent. Then in Philippians 2:12, he spoke again about how they should live whether he was present or absent. The first occurrence says they should stand firm, striving side by side for the faith of gospel. Fighting as a team, they should not be frightened by the opponents who will cause them to suffer just as Paul suffered. In the second occurrence, Paul encourages them to obey God and work out their salvation with fear and trembling because they are not alone, God is working with them.

However, the parallels do not stop here. In the first movement, Paul moves from talking about how they should behave whether he is present or absent to say in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit.” In the second movement, he moves from talking about how to live whether he is present or absent to saying in Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.”

Both sections are talking about our relationships with one another. We need to view each other as more important. Instead of being like those erring brethren in Philippians 1:15-18, who preach out of rivalry with Paul wishing to cause him affliction, we must seek good for each other. We must not grumble and complain against each other. The terms translated “grumbling” and “questioning” often carry the idea of an internal complaint or questioning that is not voiced, but can also refer to private quarrels and complaints. I think the point is twofold. We shouldn’t “go along” with our brethren externally while muttering under our breath against them. At the same time, we must not clump together in secret groups forming up party lines and complaining secretly among ourselves against others.

This entire section is about our relationships with one another. In contrast with the conceited rivals of Paul, we must learn to get along. The “one mind” of Philippians 2:2 is not saying we must have 100% agreement on every detail, but that we must all have Jesus’ mind that puts others first.

We have enemies in the world that will attack and make us suffer. We shouldn’t act like enemies within the body, competing, politicizing, complaining, and grumbling. We must learn to love each other and lift each other up, working out our own salvation while strengthening our brethren to face the struggles Satan will launch our way.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Romans 11:1-12:21.

I’m so glad for today’s reading: “Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.’ But what is God’s reply to him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal’” (Romans 11:2-4).

Sometimes I can feel so alone. I think no one else knows what it is like to be a sinner in need of a Savior, desperately striving every day to cast themselves on God for the strength to stay alive another day. Sometimes I feel like everyone else has their righteousness down pat and they don’t seem to need Jesus to come in and take control like I do. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only oddball out there who has stray thoughts and actions, choosing to sin even when I know better. Sometimes I’m afraid to admit how much I really need Jesus. I do need Him desperately because when I do things on my own, I mess them up so royally. 

But I’m not alone. There are others who think like I do. There are others who do what I do. There are others who have learned the answer is in Jesus and not in themselves. There are others who are taking today one day at a time surrendering to Jesus and letting Him have control. 

We can uplift each other. God can work through us to give us strength and give strength to each other. Just knowing you are there gives me strength to go through today in faith. We need to find each other. We need to talk to each other. We need to support each other. God will work through us when we do.

I’m not alone, no matter how much I think I am. Neither are you. Let’s let God strengthen us through each other in order to survive today.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Why were Peter and John able to take such abysmal treatment from their Jewish opponents? How were they able to take threats and beatings but then keep on teaching? 

Obviously, they had amazing faith in Jesus. However, I want to comment on another benefit they had going for them. We can read it in Acts 4:23.

“When they were released, the went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them” (ESV).

When Peter and John faced their enemies, they had friends upon whom they could rely. They could go back to others who would encourage them, praise them and lift them up. Sadly, all too often, the reason we back off from boldly proclaiming the Gospel is because the friends we most rely on for support are the very ones we are afraid will abandon us if we teach the Gospel.

Obviously, we have to make friends with those who aren’t Christians, salt does no good if it never comes in contact with the unsalted. However, the friends on whom we rely the most had better be friends that will encourage us in what is right when the times are tough. Otherwise, we might end up caving along with our friends. We must choose our best friends carefully. Our souls will depend on it.

ELC