We live in a culture where there is a great deal of attention placed on Christmas and Easter, not to mention other holidays.  We must be careful with how we view such observances.  The Apostle Paul speaks about our observance of certain days in Romans 14.6 saying, He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord.  Whatever the celebration may be, I believe Paul’s main point is, observe it for the Lord.  This is how we personally view holidays in our home, such as Easter, Christmas and even birthdays.  Such days definitely have their secularism, which we have to guard our hearts and minds against, but they are definitely redeemable and can be Christ-exalting and God-glorifying. 

Many even in the church will put a great deal of focus around these two times of the year.  For example, at Christmas we focus on the incarnation and at Easter we focus on the death and resurrection.  These are to be daily focuses in our life, not just for a special time of the year.  Sure we can celebrate these special days and emphasize their Christ-exalting focus, but we must not forget about today.  I like the words of Hebrews when the writer focuses on today (Hebrews 3.7, 13, 15).  Today is as holy as December 25, Easter or any other time of the year.  When tomorrow gets here, the same can be said about it since it is today.

So, what do we do with today according to Hebrews?  First, the writer says, Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts (3.7-8a, 15).  We must instead seek to obey the Lord and His Word.  We are not to close the Lord out on any area in our life, but instead open every area of it to Him.  A special thought for married couples comes to my mind as I write.  I pray that you would not harden your heart toward your spouse and in doing that harden your heart toward God.  If you give up on your marriage you are hardening your heart toward God.  Don’t be deceived and think you are not.  The truth is you are. 

Lastly about today the writer of Hebrews says, But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (3.13).  We are called to encourage each other today.  Why?  The purpose given is for the reason of keeping you from sin.  Church, we must encourage each other to walk in truth, to follow God’s will and ways. 

I want to encourage some of you with another verse in Hebrews which says, Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (10.24-25).  The act of encouraging has been lost in part because the priority of gathering with the church to worship together has been lost.  Don’t make missing Sunday worship or LIFEgroup gatherings a habit and in doing that miss out on being an encouragement to others.  Who knows you could be keeping someone from falling into sin by your word of encouragement to them.  One of the goals of our gatherings on Sunday is to encourage you to live a life of worship every day.  So, today honor the Lord by encouraging a brother or sister in the Lord.  Send an encouraging note, make a phone call and when the church gathers together, be here to lift another brother or sister up and don’t just slip in and out.  This should be a priority.