Hebrews 10:19–25 ¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, 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 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Consider a few key phrases in this passage.

Let us draw near.  No matter what, we are to draw near to the Lord. “No one comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6).  We draw near to Him when we receive His body and blood in His holy supper and when we remember our baptism. The sacrifice of Jesus opened heaven for us. He invites us to come to Him with a sincere (true) heart. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Because we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, we draw near to our God “in full assurance of faith.”

Let us hold unswervingly. This could also read “let us continue to hold fast.” Christian hope is ours. We should not be silent or deny the confidence that comes from faith in Christ. There will be times when it is difficult, times of testing, pain and distress. The danger is there to deny our Savior, to lose sight of the hope that is ours. If this were to happen, it would not be God’s fault, but our own, “for He who promised is faithful.”

Let us consider how we may spur one another on. How will my attitude and my conduct affect other believers? Will it stir others up for my own ends but not for the Lord’s? We must be careful not to isolate ourselves from other Christians, but to remain in fellowship with the Church. How else can we encourage each other? We need to be in and contemplate on God’s Word as we see “the Day drawing near.”    His Word will lead us “toward love and good deeds.” We encourage each other as we are part of the  body of Christ and make use of the means of God’s grace, the Word and Sacraments.