And all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25, NIV 1984).
My Musings – While with each passing day, we see “the Day approaching,” we cannot say with any degree of certainty that “[the Day] is…right at the door,” (Matthew 24:33, NIV 1984). It would, however, be well for us to “[understand] the present time…for [us] to wake up from [our] slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the [D]ay is almost here.” (Romans 13:11–12, NIV 1984).
Whether merely “approaching, nearly over, or right at the door” expectations have been high for Christ’s return since the time of Paul. We do not know if we will be the “generation [that] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened,” (Matthew 24:34, NIV 1984). But we must not “slumber.” We must “[understand] the present time.” We must do “all the more” “because [we] do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42, NIV 1984).
What then, is the “all the more?”
- “Draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:22a, NIV 1984).
- “[Cleansed] from a guilty conscience.” (Hebrews 10:22b, NIV 1984).
- “Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.” (Hebrews 10:23, NIV 1984).
- “Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24, NIV 1984).
- “Not give up meeting together.” (Hebrews 10:25a, NIV 1984).
- “Encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25b, NIV 1984).
My Advice – “Therefore keep watch…[but] you also must be ready.” (Matthew 24:42, 44, NIV 1984). And part of being ready is doing “all the more,” while carrying out the Great Commission.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. [For] and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Matthew 28:19–20, Acts 1:8, NIV 1984).
