Weekly Devotion—March 12, 2025
By Pastor Chris Simmons
Know always that God’s Grace, Mercy, and Peace are yours through Jesus Christ.
What are some of your favorite memories you have “with a group”? Examples… friends at a wedding, family vacations.
What groups do you have/participate in today?
Hebrews 10:22-25
22 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 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.
I’ve tried to just talk to that guy in the mirror, and I say to myself “self, you can do this… buck up! I’ll give you a hand today if I can spare the time”... The word encourage means “to place courage into” and when I’m in need of courage, it’s really hard to place it into myself. The author of Hebrews agrees, even Solomon says in Ecclesiastes “pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” When we surround ourselves with those who encourage us to hold fast to Christ, we see that we are being helped up, having courage placed into us, by the people around us and our Lord Jesus who is with us always.
Prayer
Lord God, we ask you for encouragement. We have moments when we are surrounded and feel the pressure of deadlines, inadequacy, and our own sins. Thank you for those you placed in our lives, from whom we draw encouragement physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Thank you for your promise of always being with us, please encourage us to draw near to you. We pray this all in the name of Jesus. Amen.