It seems to me we are living in days that are at least confusing, sometimes discouraging and many times exhausting. Being a Christian can be awkward in our work place, in society or even among our own families.

I define being a Christian as meaning we are believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. I believe there are some simple, but powerful truths in God’s word that can help us navigate our faith in these days.

 First of all, Hebrews 10:21 tells us we have a high priest over the house of God. Verse 19 clearly points out this high priest is Jesus Christ.

 The following verses give us some practical ways to successfully live for Christ in the society we live in.

 Verse 22 begins with, “Let us draw near.” How near do you want to be with our Savior? The Apostle Paul says we have the opportunity to come as near to Jesus (and each other) as we want. The results of this “drawing near” are life changing within themselves.

— A full assurance of faith,

— Our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and

— Our bodies washed with pure water.

 This is the effect of our faith seen in salvation and in baptism. The problem is, as Paul was saying “draw near,” the tendency of our society, including the church, is to withdraw.

 In verse 23, Paul is inspired to say “hold fast. — without wavering.” The definition of this could not be any clearer. To “hold fast” is to hold down, to keep in memory, to possess, to retain, and to seize.

These are not the days to forsake the assembly of ourselves together, but the days to seize our faith and bring it boldly to our “end day” society. For He is faithful who promised.

Hebrews 10:24 says “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”

Navigating our faith in such a way produces another powerful result in our lives, which is “consider one another, in order to stir up love and good works.”

Church is our time to “huddle up.” We get together to incite encouragement and direction. Many Christians aren’t even in the stadium, let alone in the huddle.

 It is time to stir up the Word of God in us by agreeing with the Bible, as we see key instruction in verse 25: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.”

 I am glad our church provides things like Facebook Live. Those at work can watch it after they get home. The sick can watch it live and those on vacation can stay in touch on Sunday morning, if they’d like.

 If not for any of those reasons, don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

The Rev. Tom Hall is pastor of Church of the Living God in Winchester.