We Need Each Other | Hebrews 10

I think, alone, most of the time I don't really see don't really see reality for what reality for what reality for what it is. I just it is. I just it is. I just learned that a lot of learned that a lot of learned that a lot of times I'm like, "Oh yeah, times I'm like, "Oh yeah, times I'm like, "Oh yeah, I totally see this I totally see this I totally see this situation from the situation from the situation from the right right right perspective or perspective or perspective or something." But actually, I something." But actually, I something." But actually, I usually don't. I see it usually don't. I see it usually don't. I see it from my side. And there from my side. And there from my side. And there is always another side is always another side . There is always another . There is always another . There is always another side to the story, or a side to the story, or a side to the story, or a perspective, or perspective, or perspective, or information I didn't information I didn't information I didn't know, or I'm know, or I'm know, or I'm disappointed, disappointed, disappointed, offended, offended, offended, confused, or confused, or confused, or too emotional too emotional too emotional about something and I don't about something and I don't about something and I don't see it clearly. see it clearly. see it clearly. That's right. Yes, we do not That's right. Yes, we do not That's right. Yes, we do not see reality on see reality on see reality on our own. Yes, our own. Yes, our own. Yes, of course. of course. of course. This is Crossroads Daily. No This is Crossroads Daily. No This is Crossroads Daily. No experts, no experts, no experts, no perfect people, perfect people, perfect people, just honest conversations just honest conversations just honest conversations about what about what about what happens when happens when happens when the Bible appears in the Bible appears in the Bible appears in real life. real life. Hello, what's Hello, what's up? I'm Chuck. up? I'm Chuck. up? I'm Chuck. I'm Chris. I'm Chris. I'm Chris. I'm Jamie. I'm Jamie. I'm Jamie. I am Jordan. I am Jordan. I am Jordan. Thank you for Thank you for Thank you for joining us joining us joining us today. So, today. So, today. So, today we read today we read today we read chapter 10 of the Epistle to chapter 10 of the Epistle to chapter 10 of the Epistle to the Hebrews. And, man, I the Hebrews. And, man, I ... Hebrews ... Hebrews is such a wonderful is such a wonderful is such a wonderful book. This is such a wonderful book. This is such a wonderful book. This is such a wonderful book. I love her book. I love her book. I love her because she really because she really because she really explains bad explains bad explains bad news clearly. You spend news clearly. You spend news clearly. You spend all these chapters, and they're all these chapters, and they're all these chapters, and they're saying that, saying that, saying that, basically, the point of basically, the point of basically, the point of Hebrews Hebrews Hebrews is that all the is that all the is that all the ritual temple ritual temple ritual temple worship of the people of worship of the people of worship of the people of Israel was Israel was Israel was completely completely completely inadequate to inadequate to inadequate to solve our solve our solve our problem with sin.

problem with sin. problem with sin. Yes. Yes. Yes. And it was never And it was never And it was never meant to meant to meant to solve it, but rather to solve it, but rather to solve it, but rather to point to the point to the point to the ultimate salvation, ultimate salvation, ultimate salvation, which is Jesus. which is Jesus. which is Jesus. So now we're at the So now we're at the So now we're at the point where we've kind of point where we've kind of point where we've kind of made this shift. made this shift. made this shift. Like, hey, there's a Like, hey, there's a Like, hey, there's a permanent permanent permanent high priest now. This is high priest now. This is high priest now. This is Jesus, right? There is no Jesus, right? There is no Jesus, right? There is no need for anything to need for anything to need for anything to stand between you and stand between you and stand between you and God now, thanks to the blood of God now, thanks to the blood of God now, thanks to the blood of Jesus. The curtain Jesus. The curtain Jesus. The curtain is torn. This...this is is torn. This...this is is torn. This...this is such a beautiful thing. And such a beautiful thing. And such a beautiful thing. And this chapter is really this chapter is really this chapter is really about, "So how do you about, "So how do you about, "So how do you live in this? How do you live in this? How do you ...how do you stay in ...how do you stay in ...how do you stay in this?" And I think there are this?" And I think there are this?" And I think there are six words that six words that six words that sum up what sum up what sum up what we've read we've read we've read today, and the first one is today, and the first one is draw near. It draw near. It draw near. It says, "Now we says, "Now we says, "Now we have confidence that have confidence that have confidence that we can draw near we can draw near we can draw near to God." Then to God." Then to God." Then it's about it's about it's about kindling our kindling our kindling our faith, right? And we do faith, right? And we do faith, right? And we do it with each other, and we it with each other, and we it with each other, and we talk about it. And talk about it. And talk about it. And then we have to then we have to then we have to hold on tightly to hold on tightly to hold on tightly to hope, because there will be things in this hope, because there will be things in this hope, because there will be things in this world world world that will that will that will oppose that hope. oppose that hope. oppose that hope. Yes. Yes. Yes. So, the question for you So, the question for you So, the question for you guys is, what has helped guys is, what has helped guys is, what has helped you get closer to you get closer to you get closer to God? What is it, you know, is there God? What is it, you know, is there God? What is it, you know, is there anything that has been anything that has been anything that has been really helpful to really helpful to really helpful to you in terms of you in terms of you in terms of getting closer to God? getting closer to God? getting closer to God? Habits, practices, Habits, practices, Habits, practices, ways of praying, ways of praying, anything. anything. anything. I don't like to I don't like to I don't like to relax in relax in relax in nature. nature. nature. Of course. Of course. Of course. start with a negative start with a negative start with a negative statement.

statement. statement. Of course. Of course. Of course. Like when people Like when people Like when people say, "Oh, I was like say, "Oh, I was like say, "Oh, I was like one with nature." one with nature." And I say: "Not And I say: "Not And I say: "Not once in my entire life once in my entire life ." ." ." This is not yours. This is not yours. This is not yours. Um, however, coma, um, I Um, however, coma, um, I Um, however, coma, um, I started running. Well, I started running. Well, I started running. Well, I started walking and it started walking and it started walking and it turned into running, um, turned into running, um, turned into running, um, you could say. And I you could say. And I you could say. And I prefer to prefer to prefer to do it outside. do it outside. do it outside. OK. OK. OK. And there's this moment: I'm And there's this moment: I'm And there's this moment: I'm trying to get out trying to get out trying to get out just before just before just before dawn, and there's this dawn, and there's this dawn, and there's this hill that I'm hill that I'm hill that I'm climbing just at climbing just at climbing just at dawn, and it's this dawn, and it's this dawn, and it's this moment where I'm just moment where I'm just moment where I'm just jogging and I jogging and I jogging and I think, "I'm sweating, but think, "I'm sweating, but think, "I'm sweating, but those could be tears those could be tears ." Because there is ." Because there is ." Because there is a feeling: "I have never a feeling: "I have never a feeling: "I have never felt so felt so felt so close to God close to God close to God as in these moments." When as in these moments." When as in these moments." When His beauty just His beauty just His beauty just appears before my eyes, me appears before my eyes, me appears before my eyes, me and maybe a few and maybe a few and maybe a few random cars random cars random cars driving by, and I driving by, and I driving by, and I just feel like that's the just feel like that's the just feel like that's the closest I've come to closest I've come to closest I've come to understanding what it understanding what it understanding what it means. And so I means. And so I means. And so I feel like when things were feel like when things were feel like when things were going wrong, even before going wrong, even before going wrong, even before I became a I became a I became a runner, there were runner, there were runner, there were moments when I would say to moments when I would say to moments when I would say to myself, "I don't know why, myself, "I don't know why, myself, "I don't know why, but I'm going to leave, I'm going to go for a but I'm going to leave, I'm going to go for a but I'm going to leave, I'm going to go for a walk, or I'm going to go walk, or I'm going to go walk, or I'm going to go into nature." Um, into nature." Um, into nature." Um, as someone who doesn't as someone who doesn't as someone who doesn't like it just like that, like it just like that, like it just like that, on Tuesday, um, I on Tuesday, um, I on Tuesday, um, I really feel like really feel like really feel like this is a place where I can this is a place where I can this is a place where I can get closer to God.

get closer to God. get closer to God. I like it. I like it. I like it. Yes. What comes to Yes. What comes to Yes. What comes to mind for me is the good old mind for me is the good old mind for me is the good old meetings meetings meetings with other with other with other followers of Jesus followers of Jesus . . . Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. You know, it could be You know, it could be You know, it could be attending a attending a attending a Sunday service, Sunday service, Sunday service, as well as meeting in a as well as meeting in a as well as meeting in a small group. This is small group. This is small group. This is the place where all the time, the place where all the time, the place where all the time, you know, when I'm with you you know, when I'm with you you know, when I'm with you guys and we're guys and we're guys and we're filming this, we're having filming this, we're having filming this, we're having real conversations here. real conversations here. real conversations here. And it really And it really And it really strengthens my faith. strengthens my faith. strengthens my faith. We talk about We talk about We talk about a lot of things here that a lot of things here that a lot of things here that I end up thinking about all day long I end up thinking about all day long I end up thinking about all day long . So I . So I . So I think the power of think the power of think the power of community is a community is a community is a really great really great really great way for me way for me way for me to get closer to God. I to get closer to God. I probably have a little probably have a little over an hour over an hour over an hour commute each day, and commute each day, and commute each day, and I usually just I usually just I usually just filled that time with filled that time with filled that time with whatever podcast whatever podcast whatever podcast or music I or music I or music I wanted, and there's nothing wanted, and there's nothing wanted, and there's nothing wrong with that. But wrong with that. But wrong with that. But for some reason one day I for some reason one day I for some reason one day I decided not to decided not to decided not to listen, and I think listen, and I think listen, and I think I heard more from God at that I heard more from God at that I heard more from God at that time than time than time than during many of my during many of my during many of my moments of silence, where I moments of silence, where I moments of silence, where I simply have one goal simply have one goal —not to crash the car. I —not to crash the car. I —not to crash the car. I just let my just let my just let my thoughts float freely thoughts float freely thoughts float freely in my head, and it's about the in my head, and it's about the in my head, and it's about the only time during only time during only time during the day when I'm truly the day when I'm truly the day when I'm truly disconnected from disconnected from disconnected from everything except sleep. So everything except sleep. So everything except sleep. So sometimes I turn on sometimes I turn on sometimes I turn on instrumental instrumental instrumental music if I feel like, music if I feel like, "I need "I need "I need some stimulation or some stimulation or some stimulation or I'm just going to die," but it I'm just going to die," but it I'm just going to die," but it feels like a feels like a feels like a space where I can space where I can space where I can quiet my mind and not be quiet my mind and not be quiet my mind and not be distracted by distracted by distracted by anything else. And that's great anything else. And that's great . I mean, . I mean, . I mean, podcasts are great too, podcasts are great too, podcasts are great too, but God

but God but God spoke to me a lot spoke to me a lot spoke to me a lot through that silence. through that silence. through that silence. This is great. Let me ask This is great. Let me ask This is great. Let me ask you something else. It you something else. It you something else. It also talks about also talks about also talks about inciting one inciting one inciting one another to love and another to love and another to love and good works. So, good works. So, good works. So, who does this in who does this in who does this in your life? Who are these your life? Who are these your life? Who are these people who inspire people who inspire people who inspire you to love and you to love and you to love and good works? good works? good works? Yes, there are a few people Yes, there are a few people Yes, there are a few people who come to mind who come to mind . I want to mention . I want to mention . I want to mention one of my one of my one of my friends, his name is friends, his name is friends, his name is Lindsay. We have been friends Lindsay. We have been friends Lindsay. We have been friends since third grade. Oho. since third grade. Oho. since third grade. Oho. This is a very long friendship. This is a very long friendship. This is a very long friendship. So we've been friends for So we've been friends for So we've been friends for 20 years? Is that true? 20 years? Is that true? 20 years? Is that true? Yes. A Yes. A Yes. A lot of time has passed. lot of time has passed. I think there's something I think there's something special about the special about the special about the longevity of this longevity of this longevity of this friendship, because even though friendship, because even though friendship, because even though we don't we don't we don't live next door and have live next door and have n't been n't been close for half of our friendship, close for half of our friendship, close for half of our friendship, Mhm. Mhm. We We keep in touch regularly, keep in touch regularly, keep in touch regularly, and I really appreciate the fact that and I really appreciate the fact that and I really appreciate the fact that we we we discuss everyday discuss everyday discuss everyday things with Lindsay, but he things with Lindsay, but he things with Lindsay, but he usually keeps it usually keeps it usually keeps it very brief because... very brief because... very brief because... Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Listen, dude, you're Listen, dude, you're Listen, dude, you're busy and I'm busy and I'm busy and I'm busy. We have families, we have a busy. We have families, we have a busy. We have families, we have a lot of things to do, but lot of things to do, but lot of things to do, but we want to talk we want to talk we want to talk about real, important things about real, important things . . . That's good. That's good. That's good. And I really appreciate that in And I really appreciate that in And I really appreciate that in our friendship. I think as I get a our friendship. I think as I get a our friendship. I think as I get a little older, little older, little older, with more with more with more responsibilities and responsibilities and responsibilities and things to do in life, that's what I'm things to do in life, that's what I'm things to do in life, that's what I'm striving for. I striving for. I striving for. I want to talk about want to talk about want to talk about real things. And real things. And real things. And sometimes I think: "Oh, well, sometimes I think: "Oh, well, sometimes I think: "Oh, well, sometimes we can sometimes we can sometimes we can talk about talk about talk about little things with adults, I little things with adults, I little things with adults, I don't know." I just don't know." I just don't know." I just say something like, " say something like, " Oh, the weather, so-so." And I'm Oh, the weather, so-so." And I'm Oh, the weather, so-so." And I'm just like: I, I do just like: I, I do just like: I, I do n't n't n't care about all this at all.

care about all this at all. care about all this at all. I just want to I just want to I just want to talk about talk about talk about M-m. what M-m. what M-m. what God is doing in God is doing in God is doing in my life, and I think my life, and I think my life, and I think he, he wants this too he, he wants this too he, he wants this too . And we kind of made . And we kind of made . And we kind of made a promise to each other: a promise to each other: a promise to each other: "Hey, man, we can "Hey, man, we can "Hey, man, we can skip all these, well, skip all these, well, skip all these, well, nice little things." " nice little things." " And let's just move on to And let's just move on to And let's just move on to Yes." the Yes." the Yes." the very essence." very essence." very essence." Dude, it's good to have a Dude, it's good to have a Dude, it's good to have a friend like that. friend like that. friend like that. Yes, definitely. It's Yes, definitely. It's Yes, definitely. It's really good to have a really good to have a really good to have a friend like that. friend like that. friend like that. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, it strikes me that Yes, it strikes me that Yes, it strikes me that revival—which is what revival—which is what revival—which is what we're we're we're talking about this week talking about this week —doesn't happen in a —doesn't happen in a —doesn't happen in a vacuum. vacuum. vacuum. Mm. Is Mm. Is Mm. Is n't that right? It's about n't that right? It's about n't that right? It's about relationships. First, " relationships. First, " draw near" means draw near" means draw near" means drawing near to God. drawing near to God. drawing near to God. So, you can So, you can So, you can think of it as a think of it as a think of it as a vertical relationship vertical relationship vertical relationship between you and God. This is, between you and God. This is, between you and God. This is, like, important. And this is the like, important. And this is the like, important. And this is the primary place primary place primary place that God wants to heal that God wants to heal that God wants to heal and strengthen when and strengthen when revival comes. But it revival comes. But it also has a also has a also has a horizontal dimension horizontal dimension , meaning that revival , meaning that revival , meaning that revival takes place in the takes place in the takes place in the community. This community. This community. This happens together. And so happens together. And so happens together. And so when you think when you think when you think about it, the alternative about it, the alternative about it, the alternative is isolation. is isolation. is isolation. Yes. Yes. Yes. Why is isolation a Why is isolation a Why is isolation a death sentence for death sentence for death sentence for our faith? our faith? our faith? Mm. Mm. Mm. What, what, what is it about What, what, what is it about What, what, what is it about isolation that we isolation that we isolation that we should avoid like the plague, should avoid like the plague, should avoid like the plague, because it is the complete because it is the complete because it is the complete opposite of opposite of opposite of rapprochement and rapprochement and rapprochement and spiritual elevation spiritual elevation ?

? ? Yes. Mm. Yes. Mm. I think in isolation I I think in isolation I often don't see often don't see often don't see reality as it reality as it reality as it really is really is . I realized many times, . I realized many times, . I realized many times, "Oh, yes, "Oh, yes, "Oh, yes, I'm totally seeing this I'm totally seeing this I'm totally seeing this situation from the situation from the situation from the right right right perspective or something perspective or something ." "Actually, I ." "Actually, I ." "Actually, I usually don't." I see usually don't." I see usually don't." I see it from my side. it from my side. it from my side. Right. Right. Right. And there is always another And there is always another And there is always another side. There's always side. There's always side. There's always another side to the story, another side to the story, another side to the story, or a point of view, or or a point of view, or or a point of view, or information I didn't information I didn't information I didn't know, or I'm know, or I'm know, or I'm disheartened, or disheartened, or disheartened, or offended, or offended, or offended, or confused, or confused, or confused, or Mm. Mm. Mm. emotionally emotionally emotionally unstable about unstable about unstable about something, and then I don't see something, and then I don't see something, and then I don't see everything clearly. And everything clearly. And everything clearly. And going back to my going back to my going back to my friend Lindsay, he friend Lindsay, he friend Lindsay, he helps me helps me helps me see the world and the see the world and the see the world and the situation, or the stage, or situation, or the stage, or situation, or the stage, or whatever whatever whatever M-m. M-m. M-m. with a real, truly with a real, truly with a real, truly profound profound profound perspective. And perspective. And perspective. And usually he can usually he can usually he can look at me and look at me and look at me and say, "Hey, you're say, "Hey, you're say, "Hey, you're looking at this the wrong way. looking at this the wrong way. looking at this the wrong way. " " " Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Or: "Dude, that's a very Or: "Dude, that's a very Or: "Dude, that's a very cynical view." " cynical view." " Let me offer Let me offer Let me offer you a you a you a hope-filled and faith-filled hope-filled and faith-filled hope-filled and faith-filled version of this." " version of this." " And this is how you should And this is how you should And this is how you should look at this look at this look at this situation." I just situation." I just situation." I just say, “Oh, you know what? You are say, “Oh, you know what? You are say, “Oh, you know what? You are right. I need to right. I need to right. I need to come to my senses. "Or I come to my senses. "Or I come to my senses. "Or I just never would have just never would have just never would have seen it seen it seen it if I hadn't had if I hadn't had if I hadn't had someone, someone, someone, Mhm. to Mhm. to Mhm. to point it out to me. That's point it out to me. That's point it out to me. That's right.

right. right. That's right. Yeah, we don't That's right. Yeah, we don't That's right. Yeah, we don't see reality on see reality on see reality on our own. our own. our own. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah, yeah, sure. That's Yeah, yeah, sure. That's Yeah, yeah, sure. That's really good. really good. really good. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. I think we can't really I think we can't really encourage ourselves much either. encourage ourselves much either. Like we Like we Like we Of course. Of course. Of course. need other need other need other people to people to people to support me in a way support me in a way support me in a way that I can't. that I can't. that I can't. For example, I can For example, I can For example, I can read the whole Bible read the whole Bible read the whole Bible and say that all of this is and say that all of this is and say that all of this is true for me, but there's true for me, but there's true for me, but there's something different when something different when something different when Of course. Of course. Of course. my brother looks my brother looks my brother looks me in the eye and says the me in the eye and says the me in the eye and says the same thing. So I think it's same thing. So I think it's same thing. So I think it's critical to critical to critical to have people who are have people who are have people who are constantly constantly constantly encouraging and encouraging and encouraging and supportive; I kind of supportive; I kind of supportive; I kind of know it, but somehow know it, but somehow know it, but somehow God has designed things so that God has designed things so that God has designed things so that when another person when another person when another person says it to me, it says it to me, it says it to me, it feels different. feels different. feels different. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah, I think another Yeah, I think another thing for me in thing for me in thing for me in isolation is the voices isolation is the voices isolation is the voices that I, well, the voices that that I, well, the voices that that I, well, the voices that I can hear. I can hear. Yeah. Um, even when I'm really Um, even when I'm really close to God, I I close to God, I I close to God, I I still hear still hear still hear negative thoughts. negative thoughts. negative thoughts. Mm. Mm. Um, but in isolation Um, but in isolation they're so amplified. they're so amplified.

Yeah. Yeah. And they're so easy And they're so easy And they're so easy to believe. And so without to believe. And so without to believe. And so without anyone anyone anyone saying, "You're important" saying, "You're important" saying, "You're important" or "That's just a lie or "That's just a lie or "That's just a lie from somewhere else," I from somewhere else," I from somewhere else," I start start start to dig into it and I to dig into it and I to dig into it and I can be can be Yes. Yes. I can be I can be I can be isolated, sitting isolated, sitting isolated, sitting here in this group with here in this group with here in this group with all of you. So it's all of you. So it's all of you. So it's not even just the not even just the not even just the loneliness with these loneliness with these loneliness with these negative thoughts. negative thoughts. negative thoughts. Um, but they get Um, but they get Um, but they get so insidious. And so insidious. And so insidious. And then it ruins everything, and then it ruins everything, and then it ruins everything, and I think, "No, but that I think, "No, but that I think, "No, but that part of my life part of my life part of my life was so strong." " was so strong." " And now I'm And now I'm And now I'm questioning and having doubts questioning and having doubts questioning and having doubts about it." So I about it." So I about it." So I think I can get to the point where I'm think I can get to the point where I'm think I can get to the point where I'm asking myself, asking myself, asking myself, "Would people miss "Would people miss "Would people miss me?" "Am I me?" "Am I me?" "Am I important?" "And if I'm important?" "And if I'm important?" "And if I'm doubting that, doubting that, doubting that, then I start to then I start to then I start to question question question things about God." So I things about God." So I things about God." So I just think that just think that just think that creates the perfect creates the perfect creates the perfect environment for environment for environment for insidious lies to insidious lies to spread freely. And then spread freely. And then I don't I know where the highs and I don't I know where the highs and I don't I know where the highs and lows are. lows are. lows are. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What Yeah. What Yeah. What you're saying is that you're saying is that you're saying is that you can sit here and you can sit here and you can sit here and still be still be still be isolated. That's something that isolated. That's something that isolated. That's something that I find so easy to I find so easy to I find so easy to struggle with, like, "Well, struggle with, like, "Well, struggle with, like, "Well, if I'm around people, if I'm around people, if I'm around people, I've ticked I've ticked I've ticked the box." "I'm doing a the box." "I'm doing a the box." "I'm doing a community program."

community program." community program." "But there's something special "But there's something special "But there's something special about about about opening up about how opening up about how opening up about how I feel and what I feel and what I'm struggling with, I'm struggling with, that's where that's where real life happens." That's where real life happens." That's where I feel growth and I feel growth and I feel growth and support when I'm support when I'm support when I'm really opening up, really opening up, really opening up, not just saying, "Well, not just saying, "Well, not just saying, "Well, I'm around I'm around I'm around people all the time." "It's like a lot of people all the time." "It's like a lot of people all the time." "It's like a lot of people people know what I'm doing in know what I'm doing in my life, but it's my life, but it's my life, but it's completely different than completely different than completely different than whether they see what's whether they see what's whether they see what's inside? What's inside? What's inside? What's going on here? going on here? Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you. It's really, really It's really, really It's really, really powerful. Um, and I think powerful. Um, and I think powerful. Um, and I think it's a reminder of it's a reminder of why this is so important. why this is so important. why this is so important. Why it's so important Why it's so important Why it's so important to come together, why it's so to come together, why it's so to come together, why it's so important that you're a important that you're a important that you're a part of this with us part of this with us . Not just for you, but . Not just for you, but . Not just for you, but for us. It's really an for us. It's really an for us. It's really an opportunity for us opportunity for us opportunity for us to encourage one to encourage one to encourage one another. And a way to another. And a way to another. And a way to draw closer to God. draw closer to God. draw closer to God. So I just pray So I just pray So I just pray for this blessing for this blessing for this blessing for you today, that for you today, that for you today, that you will draw closer to you will draw closer to you will draw closer to God. And that you will be God. And that you will be God. And that you will be inspired by something you inspired by something you inspired by something you heard today to heard today to heard today to love God, that you love God, that you love God, that you can live with God wherever can live with God wherever can live with God wherever you are, in you are, in whatever circumstances, that whatever circumstances, that whatever circumstances, that you can be Jesus you can be Jesus you can be Jesus there today.