We observed yesterday that the occasional big event, no matter how spectacular, is not enough to keep us walking with God. Neither is a weekly church service:

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 3.13, ESV, emphasis mine)

Hebrews 4 takes it a little further:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4.14 – 16, ESV)

My responsibility:

• Hold fast my confession
• Confidently draw near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace to help in time of need

Confessions must be “held fast” or they go away. And if I don’t remind myself daily (hourly!?) of Jesus’ person and God’s power, then I don’t bother to go to the throne to receive mercy and help.

Interestingly, this instruction is repeated in its entirety in Hebrews 10.19 – 25 (bulleted for clarity):

Therefore, brothers, 

• since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, (19, 20) 
• and since we have a great priest over the house of God, (21)

Let us…

• draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (22)
• hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (23) 
• consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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. (24, 25)

What can help us hold fast?

• Events? Perhaps, but we won’t make it between events.
• Weekly church services. “The weekly or ‘mid-week’ shot in the arm”? Again, not likely.
• The text says daily in Hebrews 3.13 – daily encouragement from others. That’s a challenge worth working on.

Here’s something to consider. Maybe it’s more than daily: maybe it’s continuously! 1 Thessalonians 5.16 – 18:

• Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks.
• Note the comprehensive challenge:
  • Rejoice ALWAYS (verse 16, ESV, NIV)
  • Pray CONTINUALLY (verse 17, NIV)
  • In EVERYTHING give thanks (verse 18, NKJV)

So the goal is not just a daily period to spend time with God, as important as that is. The goal is to ACE our relationship with God! ALWAYS, CONTINUALLY, in EVERYTHING, rejoicing, praying, giving thanks.

And the good news is that God loves us even when we don’t meet the goal of rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in everything (see Ephesians 2.4 – 9), although the Apostle Paul seems to make a good run at it!

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy… (Philippians 1.3, 4, ESV)