Today’s scripture: Hebrews 3:12-19 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Genese Parker):
Pointing the finger at others is really easy to do. Growing up, I was always quick to let my parents know when my brother had done something wrong. My brother called me a ‘tattletale’, but I like to think of myself as a Protector of Justice. You see as the oldest child, I had a very strong understanding of the rules that my parents expected us to follow. When I read Hebrews 3:12, I immediately thought about how my brother was very lucky to have me around to keep him from sinning. I mean, it says it right there in God’s Word, “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” I took this to heart. If it were up to me, my brother would stay on the ‘straight and narrow path’.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I say all of this in jest. It is always easier to point the finger at others and the sin that we see in their lives. It is much easier to point the finger at others, but Hebrews 3:12-19 is actually a message for God’s people. You see, when we point the finger at others, we create an ‘us’ against ‘them’ scenario. But God is not interested in us setting ourselves against one another, nor is the Lord interested in us comparing ourselves to one another, and deciding that this person is more Holy than another. Instead, we are all in this together. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” God would rather we encourage one another, on a daily basis. We will always be tempted by sin. There will always be people, circumstances and situations that will tempt us to take the easy way out and to cut corners.
I was talking to a friend recently about ‘accountability’. She made the argument that some Christians become too preoccupied with policing the behavior of others, rather than encouraging one another. For this reason she said that she was no longer interested in participating in any sort of ‘accountability group’, which seem to have become popular among Evangelical social circles.
It seems to me that Hebrews 3:12-13 describes what accountability should look like. Not only should be we remind one another of the standards that God call us to uphold as we seek to follow the example of Christ, but extending grace, love and encouragement are just as important, if not more.
Thought for the day: To whom are you pointing fingers? Have you consider pointing that finger at yourself, and looking at God’s accountability.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.