Come, let's obey God!
Reading: Hebrews 3:7-19
"Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today" (Heb 3:13)
Help and support from fellow believers, friends and family folks make obedience to God easy. We are exhorted in Hebrews 3:13-15, "Encourage one another daily, while it is called `Today'... while it is said: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." This passage means that we never outgrow the need for the fellowship of saints as long as we are on earth. When we enter eternity, there will be no "today" because there will be no yesterday or tomorrow! A walk of obedience with God is ultimately the individual's choice and responsibility, but he cannot do it all by himself. Not isolation but integration is the safest road to walk in consistent obedience.
We must not fail to note when exactly God gave Eve to Adam. It was immediately after He commanded Adam about the tree of knowledge (Gen 2:15-18). God said, "It's not good for man to be alone!" Not that he would fall into adultery if he were alone. In fact there was no woman at all at that time! The companionship of Eve was mainly to help Adam to obey God and resist Satan. What an awesome responsibility God has placed on spouses to mutually encourage and exhort one another in their walk of obedience to God! When together they seek to obey God in all matters, relationship between them also becomes smoother. This was the secret of oneness between the old couple Elizabeth and Zacharias (Lk 1:6,59-63).
Sarah helped Abraham obey God. The Bible nowhere says that Abraham left home with Isaac to sacrifice him without telling Sarah! It's a meaningless interpretation of the narrative. While commenting on the faith of Abraham, the writer of Hebrews says, "By faith Sarah ALSO...." (Heb 11:8-11).
Children need the help of parents to obey God. King Solomon stresses it in the very beginning of his book of Proverbs. "My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother" (Prov 1:8; 4:1-4). The influence of mummy and granny on Timothy is well known (2 Tim 1:5).
"Leave me alone," is the demand of youth both at home and outside. This puts the devil in an advantageous position to play havoc in their lives. Let them listen to the words of the wisest king ever lived: "Two are better than one... Because, if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up... Better is a poor and wise youth than an old foolish king who will be admonished no more" (Eccl 4:9,10,13).
