Yesterday’s reading reminded us of the new covenant found in Jesus. We are no longer captive to sin looking for our way out, but instead find freedom in the power of the cross. Today’s reading reminds us what to do now with this freedom. The writer of Hebrews tells us what the church is: a new community of people whose minds have been cleansed by God, who are confident in God’s forgiveness and eager to encourage one another “to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). This Scripture holds joy and certainty: “we have confidence;” “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith;” let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”
Confidence is the attribute found in those who have been freed. We are made free through the grace of Jesus, and now have confidence in the hope that he brings to a world that needs him. As members of God’s body, we hold onto our hope and trust. We are confident in our freedom.
With this confidence, we center every aspect of our lives around our relationship with the triune God and God’s people in our community. Because of Christ, our relationship with God allows us to bring our cares, concerns, and laments to the foot of the cross with boldness and humility.
As yesterday reminded us that we don’t have to earn God’s forgiveness through ritual sacrifices, today teaches us that we don’t have to curate this confidence; instead, we rest in the gracious arms of God that frees us from all sin. We find hope in Christ, and further, we pass along this hope to the hopeless. We share this freedom with the captive, and we fight for those oppressed. We are confident that God will be present in the midst of this work.
We confidently rest in God’s love by passionately passing along that love to those who feel unlovable.
As we are anchored in God’s grace and strengthened through fellowship, the community is able to be confident in the face of opposition and hostility. Our public witness to the world around us of God’s liberating love strengthens our collective confidence and builds up the body of Christ, and further, expands the Kingdom of God here on earth.