Overcoming Roadblocks

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

The drive between our home and work is a windy, rural drive, that is broken by the occasional kangaroo or koala resting on the road. It’s a peaceful drive: not many cars, no traffic lights, and nothing to break the quiet solitude that gives me opportunity to pray or sing on the way to and from work.

However, this scenario changed abruptly one afternoon recently on the way home. Without warning, a huge branch from a towering gum tree up ahead came crashing down swamping the entire road with leaf litter, sticks and a thousand shards of the fallen branch, which I certainly would not have a hope of budging. My way was blocked and disembarking from the car, I inspected the damage. There was only one thing to do: wait until help arrived.

One hour later a team of people were still working tirelessly to remove the rubble that remained. Eventually, together, we cleared the road and made smooth passage possible.

Roadblocks in our own spiritual journey can come up suddenly out of nowhere. We ought not to boast that all is going well, and we are confident in ourselves, because truly we are clueless as to what lays ahead that could quickly halt our progress.

The author of Hebrews is adamant that we need to not only guard our own soul against the roadblocks that cause us to stumble in our own Christian journey, but also to help guard each other by encouraging one another to stand strong and persevere in our faith.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching.

We live in the last days. Because of the impending return of Christ, we are to encourage one another in whatever way the Spirit of God makes clear to us today. We cannot and are not expected to be lone agents for Christ bearing the load on our own. We are made for one another. We need one another. We have a duty to support and encourage one another. And if we truly love one another in Christ, that’s exactly what we will do.

So let us consider (give serious thought) as to the myriads of ways we can do this. We ought to be promoting, fostering and drawing out faith and love in one another. We ought to be considering how to stir up or agitate love and good works in one another, rather than letting them lie dormant and useless.

The deceitfulness of sin is a major roadblock that will bring our fruitful and vibrant life with Christ to a grinding halt. The experience on the journey home from work, drove home the point that we truly need each other in the body of Christ and we each have a vital part to play in encouraging one another.

What will you do or say today that will encourage another in His body in their faith and stir them up to love and good works?

Let’s endeavor to keep the spiritual road ahead free from roadblocks that will slow down our progress in the life of faith with Christ or worse still, halt our course entirely.