For much of Hebrews, we've been learning who Jesus is and what his life, death, and resurrection have accomplished. We've considered his faithfulness as God's Son, his compassion as our great high priest, and the new covenant established through his sacrifice.

Again and again, the writer has shown us that Jesus is greater than everything that came before. Now, the writer turns our attention toward what all of this means for the way we live.

Because of Jesus, we can approach God with confidence. Because of Jesus, we have a hope worth holding onto. And because of Jesus, we have a responsibility to encourage one another as we continue in faith.

Notice how the passage begins: "Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have confidence that we can enter the holy of holies by means of Jesus' blood" (Hebrews 10:19, CEB). Under the old covenant, access to the most holy place was carefully restricted. Only the high priest could enter, and only under particular circumstances. But Jesus has opened a new and living way into God's presence. The barrier that once separated humanity from the holy presence of God has been overcome through Christ.

We no longer approach God hoping that our sacrifices will be sufficient. We approach because Christ's sacrifice already is. We aren't invited into God's presence because we've finally made ourselves worthy. We're invited because Jesus has made a way.

But, this confidence is intended to change how we live. The writer gives us three closely connected instructions: draw near to God, hold tightly to our hope, and encourage one another toward love and good works. These aren't three unrelated religious responsibilities. Together, they describe a life shaped by the grace we've received.

First, we're invited to draw near to God with sincere hearts and the full assurance of faith. God's grace doesn't just provide forgiveness while leaving us unchanged. As we've seen throughout Hebrews, the new covenant reaches into our hearts and minds. God is forming a people whose lives increasingly reflect the holiness and love of Christ.

Our confidence before God isn't permission to remain as we are. It's the foundation for becoming who God has created us to be.

Second, we're called to hold tightly to the hope we profess because the One who made the promise is faithful. That's important because faithfulness doesn't always come easily.

The original readers of Hebrews knew what it meant to suffer for following Jesus. They had endured public humiliation, persecution, imprisonment, and the loss of their possessions. Their commitment to Christ had cost them something.

The writer doesn't dismiss those experiences. Instead, he reminds them of how they had already persevered, and encourages them not to abandon the confidence that had sustained them. Their hope wasn't grounded in favorable circumstances. It rested in the faithfulness of God.

And then comes the third instruction, which brings this passage directly into the life of the church. "And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24, CEB). We aren't meant to persevere alone.

The writer warns against abandoning the practice of meeting together. In a community experiencing persecution, gathering for worship could bring real danger. Staying away might have seemed like the safer choice. Yet, the writer insists that believers need one another.

We need people who will remind us of God's promises when our confidence begins to weaken. We need people who will challenge us when our lives drift away from Christ. We need people who will walk alongside us when obedience becomes costly. And, we have a responsibility to offer that same encouragement to others.

This is part of what it means to be the Body of Christ. Our participation in the life of the church isn't only about what we receive from worship, teaching, or fellowship. Our presence and encouragement help strengthen the faith of others.

Of course, Hebrews doesn't leave us with encouragement alone. Verses 26–31 describe the danger of knowingly rejecting Christ after receiving the truth of the gospel. We shouldn't soften that warning because it might make us uncomfortable.

The grace that welcomes us into God's presence is a gift. To deliberately turn away from Christ and treat his sacrifice as worthless is to reject the very source of our salvation. But, we should also recognize the difference between someone struggling to remain faithful and someone determined to abandon Christ altogether.

The writer is addressing people under pressure, people who might be tempted to walk away because following Jesus has become difficult. His purpose isn't to make every struggling believer question whether forgiveness is still possible. It's to remind the church that our response to grace carries real significance.

That's why the passage ends where it does. "But we aren't the sort of people who timidly draw back and end up being destroyed. We're the sort of people who have faith so that our whole beings are preserved" (Hebrews 10:39, CEB). The writer believes these people can persevere. He remembers their earlier faithfulness and calls them to continue trusting the God who has sustained them.

We've spent these chapters discovering the extraordinary work of Jesus Christ, our great high priest. Now we're being called to live in response to that work.

Draw near to God. Hold fast to hope. Encourage one another. We can do these things because Christ has opened the way, God's promises remain trustworthy, and the Holy Spirit continues to work within us. And when the road becomes difficult, we don't have to walk it alone.

Think of one person in your church family who may be weary, discouraged, or struggling to remain hopeful. Reach out to them today with a specific word of encouragement. Remind them that they're not alone and that God's faithfulness hasn't changed.