Hebrews 10:25 (ESV)
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
I read a story about a young woman named Linda who was
traveling alone up the rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. The first
evening she found a room at a small-town Inn in the mountains and figured she'd
continue her journey bright and fresh, early the next morning. But strangely,
when she called down to the front desk and asked for a wake-up call at 5 AM the
clerk sounded puzzled by her request.
She awoke bright and early as she intended, and suddenly
realized the reason for the clerk’s reaction the night before. A thick fog
covered the mountain tops -- it was not the kind of weather in which you'd want
to take a Sunday drive. Not wanting to look foolish, however, she got her
things together and went to breakfast. There, she met two friendly truck
drivers and who invited her to join them. "So, where are you headed?"
one of the truckers asked. "Whitehorse", Linda replied.
"You're not planning on driving that little car are
you?" he said chuckling and pointing outside at the only little car among
several eighteen-wheelers in the parking lot. "This pass is dangerous in
weather like this!" "Well," said Linda, "I'm determined to
try." "Well then -- I guess we're just going to have to hug
you," the other trucker suggested. "What?!" Linda gasped, "I
don't think that would be appropriate!"
"Not like that!" the two truck drivers laughed
heartily. "We'll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear. In
that way, we'll get you through the mountains." All that foggy morning,
Linda followed the two red dots in front of her and had the reassurance of a
big escort behind as they made their way safely through the mountains.
Just as Linda did, we often feel confident that we can
get by on our own, without any help from anyone else -- and before we know it,
we're lost in the thick fog of the mountain of life. I have seen so
many people leave the fellowship of believers and go off on their own, becoming
bitter against a brother or sister, or pastor and believing they'll be better
off doing their own thing. Many of these have sadly never come back to the
fold. But this is yet another way the enemy of our souls seeks to draw us away
from the Lord. As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we need to be closely knit
with one another, helping each other and giving and receiving compassion and
love. We need one another!
Let's get back into fellowship. Let's make it a priority
to be "hugged" by our family in the Lord who know the way and can
lead safely ahead of us, and strive to reach out and "hug" others by
gently encouraging them along from behind!
Dear Lord, help us make an effort to be hugged and hug our
fellow brothers and sisters as we go through this life. In the Name of Jesus,
Amen.
