Learning To Become A Partner With Jesus Christ

But exhort one another daily, 

while it is called Today; lest

any of you be hardened through

the deceitfulness of sin. For we

are made partakers of Christ,

if we hold the beginning of our

confidence, steadfast unto the end; 

while it is said, Today if ye will hear

His voice, harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation. For some, 

when they had heard, did provoke:

howbeit and all that came out of 

Egypt by Moses.

Hebrews 3:13-16

     How often should a Christian be in the word of God? Daily! How often should a Christian aid others in their walk in the Lord? Daily! When should all this be done? While it is still called "Today." The Greek word for "Today" is prefaced with an article "the" so a literal translation would be "the Today" extending the meaning into the future and also carries the meaning that there will be a time when there will be no "Today." This places an urgency upon all Christian believers to be busy in the work of the Lord. This work may take many different avenues, but all is to be designed to teach the Gospel, to aid brothers and sisters in Christ. This work is and extension emanating from the heart where faith is at work. Our work extends from our faith, not that our faith comes by our work. Some have turned this fact around 180 degrees and are doing what they believe is godly due to their work and not due to their faith. 

     If a person, a Christian does not stay daily in the word of God then the door is open so that sin may enter into the heart, hardening the heart making cause for a person to leave the faith and follow after another gospel, another culture, etc., so we must guard the heart. This evil that enters and hardens the heart comes by unbelief. Unbelief comes by means of deceitfulness often sounding as truth when in fact it is not, it is another gospel, a tickling of the ears. All men and women, children, are going through life facing many trials and troubles and are in need of strength and that strength comes to them by you and me, by prayer and by a diligent study of God's word. All of these means help a person to face "Today." At one time or another we all need that help from our faithful brothers and sisters. This cannot be done if all we do is come to Church on Sunday, hear the message, talk to our friends, and then leave to go and play, to not attend midweek services, to not go to Bible studies is no help. Love, this God/love, this principled love should be driving a Christian to be involved with their brothers and sisters and not allow things of this world to take a higher priority. Yes, we all have things that need to be done, times when all this is not for the moment possible, but unless these things necessary for health of our brothers and sisters we must make this a priority. Why?

     "For we are made partakers of Christ" (Hebrews 3:14a). The Greek word translated "partakers" means to be a participant, a sharer, a partner, to be of those who are called to that heavenly calling of God, to keep a right relationship to the earthly, Messianic kingdom. If we, as Authentic Christians are not following these words then we are provoking God, we are members of provocation and we learn from Scripture, from history how well that worked out for the Hebrews after they left Egypt. This is our lesson so that we do not do as those Hebrews did and keep our hearts from being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. The word deceit means that this sin does not necessarily present itself directly, it comes by way of hidden words, it touches what has yet to be cleansed by way of sanctification and work that comes not only by your efforts to live as an Authentic Christian, it comes by the help from others who themselves are helped as they help others. This sharing, this partaking, this partnership between brothers and sisters is a magnificent thing, a marvelous and loving thing that we as Christians can share with one another. What a blessing. Do not miss out on this blessing! Remember: You are a partner, a participant in the congregation, as a member of the temple of God, what you are in Christ. All members of Christ make up His temple, that is you, and me, therefore, live according to what you are in Christ.

For He is our God; and we are 

     the people of His pasture, 

and the sheep of His hand.

     Today if you will hear 

His voice.

           Psalm 95:7

You are the Temple of God

Richard L. Crumb