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See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called \u201cToday,\u201d so that none of you may be hardened by sin\u2019s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. (Hebrews 3:12-14)

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Last week Friday, we talked about the choice between life and death that Moses set before the people.\xa0 A life of obedience or death in disobedience.\xa0 The writer of Hebrews reflects on Israel\u2019s history, recognizing that many chose the path of disobedience.\xa0 Today, we can make a different choice.

Our choice though is not quite as stark as the one set before the Israelites.\xa0 Why not?\xa0 Because God now assumes our disobedience and so meets us in our sin with the mercy, grace, and forgiveness in Christ necessary to enable a new life of obedience in us.\xa0

This is a work of God in Christ through the Spirit from beginning to end.\xa0

Even so, we still have a part to play as we seek to get in on it and walk out our following of Jesus in a life obediently submitted to his ways.

The choice comes to us daily.\xa0 Every day that is called \u201ctoday\u201d is a new, fresh opportunity to choose to respond to Christ in obedience.\xa0 Every \u201ctoday\u201d is a new and fresh opportunity to daily take up our cross and follow him.\xa0

Perhaps you haven\u2019t chosen to walk out any sort of obedient faithfulness in the last days, weeks, or even months.\xa0 Or, maybe your obedience has been characterized by a series of fits and starts.\xa0 Doesn\u2019t matter.\xa0 Because God\u2019s grace does not meet you in the past. \xa0So there\u2019s no need to wallow in guilt. \xa0Nor does God\u2019s grace meet you in the future.\xa0 To put off the decision is just procrastination.\xa0

No: God\u2019s grace meets you TODAY.\xa0 Now.\xa0 In the present.\xa0 The only moment that you have in which you can ever respond to God in faithfulness is this one.\xa0 Right here.\xa0 Right now.\xa0 Today.

No matter how many days of unfaithfulness have piled up behind you: only one day matters.\xa0 Today.\xa0

So, today, choose life.\xa0 Choose to follow Jesus.\xa0 And when tomorrow becomes today: choose it again.\xa0 Do it on the next today too.\xa0 And even if you miss a day, don\u2019t worry: a new today is coming with fresh mercies new every morning.\xa0 Any and every fresh new day that we call today is an opportunity for a new and fresh decision to follow Jesus.\xa0

Encourage one another therefore, on every today as long as it is called today.\xa0 Because today is the day to follow Jesus.

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