What must we continue to do?

Leader from November’s Magazine.

Daily life keeps on changing. It’s one of the difficult challenges of the pandemic that we have to adapt and then readapt. This is a tiring process even for those people who say they like new things so as to avoid being in a rut. It might seem easier to make fewer plans, so as to avoid wasting effort if all changes. But then that can lead to not making decisions or to delay taking action. There is the pull of wanting to turn back the clock to “how things used to be” with a longing for the old normal. The new normal is a hassle. How can we remain motivated?

The idea of motivation and perseverance are important to following Jesus. This is a significant theme in Hebrews, a New Testament letter to people facing challenges and feeling disheartened. Those who were born Jews but became followers of Jesus were evidently struggling. They longed to go back to how things once were. Why and how are they to keep going?

Why keep going? It’s because of the huge privilege of being in fellowship with God through the shed blood of Christ. This is a fabulous truth to keep in mind: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10v23). We are to be a Bible reading fellowship who rejoice and pray about all that we learn of the Lord Jesus – the source of hope in the face of adversity.

How to keep going? Following Jesus is a corporate activity: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds” (Heb 10v24). It’s vital encouragement – the occasional prompt, the help, the inspiration of others so that we give and not only receive. But also we need to continue to meet as a local church to worship (in person, on zoom, using our recorded services): “Do not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10v25).

We are committed to our local church since we are on mission together until the final Day of Judgment and Salvation draws near.

Do join us and play your part as we persevere and keep following Jesus our hope.

                                          Paul Kingman