Hebrews 10:23-25. 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.
Our Lord Jesus Christ loved His church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). He promised to guard His church from the evil one (Matthew 16:18). Throughout history, He has been transforming the world through His church. To this end, He promised to strengthen His church to stand firm on His covenant and watch over His saints—those who have received and believed Him as the Christ.
Are you living in despair? Still trapped in the patterns of this world? God did not call you to live like that. You are a child of the King. He is watching over you with eyes like blazing fire (Revelation 2:18). He is leading you to the ends of the earth to be His witness (Acts 1:8).
After Peter’s denial, Jesus asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15). Jesus came not to condemn Peter for his failure but to restore him. In the same way, even when we fall into temptation, our Lord does not break His relationship with us. Rather, He comes to us again and again with words of love, grace, and encouragement. His death on the cross and His resurrection are the ultimate proof of His relentless love for us.
In our moments of despair and hopelessness, Jesus draws near and revives our hearts through His Word. “They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32). When the two disciples met the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, everything changed. They returned to Jerusalem and proclaimed that He was alive (Luke 24:33–35).
Our Lord works with us when we pray. “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon” (Acts 3:1). As they devoted themselves to prayer, God raised up a crippled beggar and opened the door to the gospel in Jerusalem. In the same way, when we pray in Jesus’ name, we will witness God’s perfect timing and His work of salvation.
Those who understand the heart of God and pray will be used in His plan for world evangelization. When the church in Antioch worshiped and fasted, they were led by the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2–3). It was through this church that God accomplished world missions in Asia, Macedonia, and eventually Rome.
Why did God use Paul? Because he was a man of prayer. “On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer” (Acts 16:13). The answer to Paul’s prayer came as “The Lord opened her [Lydia’s] heart to respond to Paul’s message” (Acts 16:14). That was the beginning of the church in Philippi.
Through Paul, God also set a slave girl free from the power of an evil spirit. “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling” (Acts 16:16). Again, it happened at the place of prayer—God’s perfect time.
Even when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, they fixed their eyes on God in prayer. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose” (Acts 16:25–26). God’s plan went beyond freeing them from prison. That night, He saved the jailer and his household (Acts 16:30–31).
Even today, Jesus watches over His church. Today’s Word reminds us of the vital importance of the church. The Lord’s presence among His gathered people strengthens the church and helps us remain steadfast in the Word, prayer, and evangelism. Through fellowship and mutual encouragement, the church becomes the vessel through which Christ works powerfully in the world.
But just as Jesus warned the early church, Jesus warns today’s church against idolatry, deception, and false prophets (Revelation 2:20, 3:1). In particular, He gives a grave warning to those who maintain a form of religion without true life. A church that does not know the mystery of Christ may look godly outwardly but denies the power of the gospel (2 Timothy 3:5).
We must take these warnings to heart, especially as we see many churches around the world bound by traditions and legalism, while lacking the true life and power of the gospel. Through the proclamation of His Word, He rebukes, corrects, and restores His church.
When the gospel is preached in all nations, He will return just as He promised (Matthew 24:14). So let us lift our eyes beyond our current situation and approach the throne of God with boldness in prayer. Let us continue gathering as His church to pray for our communities, our nation, and the world.
Prayer. Lord Jesus, thank You for watching over me with eyes like blazing fire. Thank You for encouraging me through Your Word. I believe You will guard me from the evil one. Make me a person of prayer. In Your precious name I pray, Amen.