Don't Get Burned

I admit it. I am a closet pyromaniac. I really enjoy fires in my fireplace at home. Perhaps more than I should!

 

We have all been told, “Don’t play with matches” when we were young. You guessed it. I did. And I got burned.

 

(I am not sure which was worse, burning my fingers, or suffering in silence. I had to keep quiet.  Had I told my parents, I am certain a different part of my body would have gotten hot, if you get my gist.)

 

Today’s reading is Hebrews 3:7-19. The author is speaking to Jewish converts who were reverting back to Judaism instead of moving ahead with their new Christian faith. He reminds these converts that God was not happy with their forefathers when they went astray in the dessert, en route to the Promised Land.

 

Their forefathers turned away from God and did not trust Him or believe His promises.

 

The author continues to remind the new converts that God punished those who ignored His promises. The generation who left Egypt died before entering the Promised Land.

 

In effect, the author says, “If you play with fire, you are going to get burned.”

 

Yet, instructions are given that help one keep one’s faith. “… encourage one another daily … so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness …. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”

 

Keeping one’s faith in today’s world can be a challenge at times. We are tugged away from Christ from many sources. Like the Hebrews, we can be guilty of falling back to the ways of the world. We need to combat this and do exercises that help us keep our faith.

 

The author of Hebrews provides good counsel, but his advice is not the only advice that works for Christians today.

 

What exercises do you do that help you appreciate God and keep your faith?

 

My favorites are reading the Bible and taking Communion.

 

But I also like a tall glass of ice water nearby!