But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13, ESV
A joke among pastors is that “the IHS” on the cross does not stand for “one-hour service.” Though it is a joke, there is some seriousness behind it. How often is our faith life defined by when it is convenient and at a length that fits our schedules? I have known pastors who have shaped their worship time schedules around football schedules. The writer of Hebrews was calling us to remember that our faith should take priority in our lives or it can too easily be drowned out by other things and our hearts may become hardened. A hard heart misses opportunities to witness, and relationships can become distanced. Christ doesn’t just want to be our focus for an hour on Sunday morning, but he desires to be in the center of our day-to-day living. Christ wants to be your all in all.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.