It's the same word that the writer of Hebrews uses when he says, "He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you." So, what word is that?
On this Easter morning the verse that comes to mind is that which in found in chapter ten and verse twenty-five of the New Testament book of Hebrews. There the writer says, "Not forsaking the" ... I love how the writer of one of most used Greek-English Lexicons, Joseph Henry Thayer, defines this word. He says that the word describes one who is abandoned ... or deserted ... or left helpless. Perhaps you've been there before. Have you cried out, feeling "helpless"? Have you experienced times in your life when someone of whom you depended upon left you? ... They deserted you! Or perhaps you're sensing abandonment during these crazy days upon us, when we're called to "social distance".
Please know two things ... One, that our Father --- our God who is Creator --- and Redeemer --- shall NEVER leave you or forsake you! And two, that we as followers of Christ are NOT to forsake ... abandon our meeting together. --- Another very cool word is this 'meeting together'. You've likely heard it once or twice :) It is the word 'synagogue', with the little preposition 'upon' tagged onto the front. Synagogue itself means leading together. So we ... the body of Christ are not to abandon our synagogue time together.
Now ... if there is a 'not' ... as in the forsake or abandon part, might the writer as well include that which we are to accomplish? And the answer is a definite yes! For he concludes that we are to be ones that are encouraging. This participle is such that it expresses a 24/7 --- 365 days of the year (oh yeah ... 366 for this year :) ) kind of action.
So in these bizarre times that we find ourselves in here in the Spring of 2020, where we are mandated to abandon our meeting together ... might we continue to encourage each other. It is my hope that this video does some of that encouraging as well.
To Him be the glory for He is risen. He is risen indeed!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment