Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
Hebrews was written at a time of persecution, and contains many references to remaining faithful. We're responsible for our own discipleship, but the writer also encourages us to 'help one another every day' (verse 13). We are responsible to each other as a community, too.
We're living in extraordinarily difficult times, when it's no longer safe for churches to meet. But this isn't an entirely new situation. There are parts of the world where Christians are forbidden to gather because of an oppressive state. There have been other times when disease has made meeting impossible. Some believers are isolated because of frailty or illness, and perhaps this situation might make us more sensitive to their needs when we are able to meet again.
In the meantime, we have a special responsibility to encourage and support each other in keeping the faith. CS Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity: 'We have to be continually reminded of what we believe. Neither this belief nor any other will automatically remain alive in the mind. It must be fed. And as a matter of fact, if you examined a hundred people who had lost their faith in Christianity, I wonder how many of them would turn out to have been reasoned out of it by honest argument? Do not most people simply drift away?'
The danger of ceasing to meet is that people fall out of the habit of faith. We have a responsibility to keep our sisters and brothers faithful.
God, please preserve me from the temptation of indifference. Keep me walking close to you, and help me be a support to others.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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