As I’m reading through the New Testament book of Hebrews I am constantly challenged to “be better”. The first part of Hebrews is a lengthy argument for Jesus: He is better (He is best) than anyone or anything. To accept anything less than who Jesus is and what He wants to do in our lives is settling for less than best.

But I wonder, am I settling for less than the best in my life because my focus is on tomorrow instead of today?

You know what I mean. “Tomorrow I will…” “It can wait until tomorrow…”

Hebrews chapter three says it this way (from The Message Paraphrase of the Bible)

“So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.” (verses 12-14)

I find myself looking for tomorrow instead of watching today. Do you?

When I’m focused on what could happen or what I want to do tomorrow I often do not consider that God has given me NOW. How did one author put it?

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a dream, but today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the ‘Present’.”

So what should we be doing today?

First, we should be watching our steps: “So watch your step…”. Where are our choices, our words, our actions taking us today?

Second, we should be watching our thoughts: “Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up…” Our thoughts are what get us into the most trouble. Every action starts with a thought. How often do I commit a sin because I simply am not taking God at His word that that sin will hurt me and cause me to trip up in my walk?

Third, we should be watching our Christian friends. “keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes.” I notice that the passage does not tell me to condemn my friends, or talk down to them, but rather to encourage my friends to stay alert, “on their toes” so all of us will be sharp and ready for whatever God has in store for us today.

I also notice that sin dulls my senses. It slows down my reflexes. This is a HUGE concept. Not only does sin cause pain in our lives, it dulls us to what God is trying to tell us. If you read the final verses of Hebrews chapter three you see a tragic example of this truth. The very people God was trying to deliver from their rough experiences were the ones who let sin keep them from that deliverance. (Check out Hebrews 3:16-19.)

Verse fourteen of chapter three tells us to “get a grip”. “If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.”

It’s not just about “Today”, it’s about the “long haul”. What I do today effects not only tomorrow, but eternity. Today makes a difference in eternity.

I need to keep my grip on the things Jesus gave me when I accepted Him as my Forgiver and Boss. (Those who have attended our ACTs class will remember how to “get a grip” on God’s Word.)

One final thought…

“For as long as it’s still God’s Today”. That’s how verse thirteen begins. Think about that. It’s NEVER yesterday or tomorrow. It is ALWAYS “today”. And it’s not just “today”, it’s “God’s Today”.

The best thing I can do is to remember that TODAY BELONGS TO GOD NOT ME. He’s letting me borrow it and invest it for Him, but it still belongs to Him.

So I want to constantly remind myself today that it’s not my day, it’s HIS DAY. How will I invest today for Him?