Better Together Through HebrewsSampel

Striving Toward Maturity

I like to think that Jesus was an introvert. Consider the facts: Jesus once spent 40 days in prayer. Alone. In the desert. While I consider myself a proud introvert, this is taking it to another level. Mark tells us that Jesus once “got up while it was still dark” to go be alone with his Father. And then when the disciples find him and tell him the crowds are looking for him, he says, “Let’s go somewhere else” (1:35–38). Classic introversion. 

Another time we read about him out on a boat trip with his disciples. And while they are tending to the sails, telling stories, and laughing at Peter’s antics, Jesus quietly descends into the belly of the ship to take a nap (Mark 4:35–38).Only introverts can nap when there’s a party going on upstairs.

Even if you’re not an introvert, I bet you can sympathize. 

You may feel like you are the only one in your home who is a Christian, so your faith is a “personal thing.” You may be the only one at the office who knows the Lord, so your faith is either in secret, or you feel like a martyr—you stand out, but you stand alone. Or maybe Christians surround you, but you are the only one interested in actually growing in your faith. People are put off by your commitment to prayer and devotional time, so you begin to think, “I guess it’s just Jesus and me.” After some time, there’s a part of us that thinks that being a lone ranger may not only be the best way to deepen our faith; it may be the only way. But despite how lonely we may feel faith is at times, and despite the fact that going solo may even be our preference, God reminds us that he can still be found among the masses. After all, though Jesus retreated, he always returned to the people. 

After 40 days in the desert he returns—rested, renewed, and resolute. He gathers his disciples, and they head to a wedding. Not a retreat, not a prayer vigil, but a crowded, festive wedding that gets so crazy they run out of wine! Yet Jesus steps in and saves the day (John 2).

The letter to the Hebrews begins with a reminder of the community’s original confession of faith. As the writer lists out the qualities of Christ and tenants of their faith, he is declaring: “This is what we signed up for.” “This is who we believe.” So it makes sense throughout the rest of the letter that he continues to exhort the believers to join together in their faith. Faith is more like basketball and less like golf. We need each other and rely on each other, and we get there quicker together.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

There is something to us being together in order for us to fully receive grace when we “need it most.”

The author of Hebrews goes on,

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

Hebrews 6:1–3 NIV

There is something we receive in corporate worship that we can’t get on our own. We see other people worship. We hear other people’s stories. And we see other people connect with God even when we feel we aren’t. The word maturity has also been translated as “perfection.” We may not all be perfect, but when we come together, we’re at least working toward it. When we are thankful together, and when we please God together, we not only worship him, but we are, in a sense, serving him. As we serve each other, we serve our Lord and strive toward the perfection only God can bestow.

Jesus goes on to tell us in the Sermon on the Mount that our service actually directs people to God.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:16 NLT

If you think about it, God’s call for our lives is to love him and love others. And it is impossible to love him and serve others alone. When I force myself out of my comfort zone to serve others, I find that I not only strengthen their faith, I deepen mine. I’m more like Jesus when I’m with others, and that is what it means to be a mature follower of Jesus. It’s not about how much you know; it’s about how you live out what you do know. It’s not about being perfect, but being perfectly imperfect and serving God.

Jesus was the lead servant. He washed his disciples’ feet, he healed the sick, he encouraged the broken, and he even challenged the comfortable. All his actions were to serve. And serving only happens with other people. The only person I serve when I’m alone is myself. We are never more like Jesus than when we serve, and the only way we can mature is if we do it together.