This blog can be found on YouTube, or keep reading for the written version!

As I was preparing this week’s blog, the word encourage came to mind. Webster’s definition of encourage is: “to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope: hearten; to attempt to persuade: urge; to spur on.” This is my heart each week; I want to give you courage to keep going, to make you bold again, to build you up and inspire strength in your soul. Hebrews 10:25 surfaced, and as I read the verses leading up to it, the phrase “let us” was on repeat.

Of course, this made me think of “lettuce” and all the components of a salad. 😂

I love a good salad. Not to brag, but I may be a master of salad toppings. (Or maybe I’m a little bit extreme.) Less is not more in my salads! My goal is a healthy, rainbow-colored palette with a variety of produce. In fact, the spinach or spring mix is simply a vessel for me to get my daily amount of fruit and veggies. As a person with Celiac Disease dedicated to a gluten-free diet, I eat a salad almost every day for lunch. It varies daily based on what’s in the fridge.

Back to Hebrews! Verses 10:19-25… “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Bear with me as we build a salad – the metaphor may fall apart in a few places, but overall I think it’s a good visual! The pieces all work together to create something amazing; each element is unique in flavor but equally important.

Let us…

• Let us draw near to God – the bed of greens. The main thing. Without the lettuce, there’s no salad. Without God, there’s no life or purpose. He’s the foundation we build from. He’s the center we draw near to. Jesus made this coming close a possibility for us. “Come near to God and He will come near to you” (James 4:8). Let’s draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.
• Let us hold unswervingly to hope – veggies. Vital for life. We need hope, and we need to hold on to hope, especially when things don’t make sense. God is faithful to keep His promises. Romans 8:24-25 – “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
• Let us spur one another on – protein. Energy to keep going! Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We help one another, pushing each other toward the finish line. We give each other a boost, providing a launching pad instead of holding each other back.
• Let us not give up gathering – fruit. Sweetness, joy, unity. Acts 2:46-47 – “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” I’m an advocate for being planted in the local church, but I also understand that in our current season, this gathering may look a little different. Whether it involves masks, staying six feet apart, or relying more on technology, we can find creative ways to be together with glad and sincere hearts.
• Let us encourage one another – dressing/cheese/nuts. Essentials. The bonus features that bring it all together. Sprinkled throughout, in every bite. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” The Greek word for “comfort” used here is the same as “encourage” in Hebrews 10. This journey heavenward is heavy and full of trouble, and we need encouragement and comfort to keep going. And all the more as we wait for Jesus’ return. Not less. There are things that you’ve endured, storms you have faced that God has comforted you through. Now you can encourage others going through similar trials, speaking courage into their lives and hearts.

Psalm 107 shares different stories of redemption… for those wandering in the desert, for some sitting in darkness, for rebellious fools. “Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep. For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end” (vs. 23-27). Have you felt the rush of the mighty waters surrounding you? Has your courage melted away in your peril? Have you reached the end of your wits?

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.” – Psalm 107:28-32

God is writing your story; it’s full of beauty and redemptive power. He sees you in your circumstances; He hears the ache in your heart. He is calming the storm, or comforting you in the midst of it, and He is leading you to Himself – the safest haven this side of heaven. Let His love cast out fear as you rest in His embrace.

Let us draw close to God. Let us hold fast to hope. Let us spur one another on. Let us gather together. Let us encourage each other.

Let us.

Also, lettuce! Here are my ultimate salad components:

• The bed of greens: spinach, spring mix, kale, beet leaves
• Veggies: bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, grape, tomatoes, beets, avocado, black olives, corn, pickled red onions (I know, most of these are considered fruit because of their seeds… but in my mind, if it’s savory, it’s a vegetable)
• Protein: hard-boiled egg, garbanzo beans, leftover chicken, bacon, quinoa
• Fruit: blueberries, strawberries, apples, cranberries
• Finishing touches: dressing, cheese (feta or Parmesan), nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)

P.S. Check out Jon’s newest cover, Sparrows by Cory Asbury! Focus on God’s kindness and goodness. He is faithful, and He is working all things to good on your behalf. Believe the promise that He takes good care of you; He’s holding you in His hands!