Removing Guilt from the Invitation to Community

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:24-25

Many of us who read these devotionals come out of a strong evangelical church culture which sometimes (often?) used these verses as a form of control and persuasion. With these verses we were bullied into more bible studies or berated by our leaders for not being consistent enough. Sigh. May God heal us from our wounds and enable us to experience these words in fresh ways.

What if we could read these words without guilt but with gratitude? What if they could be freeing instead of controlling? Let us consider these things.

Take a few deep breaths and invite the Spirit to lead you. Pay special attention to you body, your emotions, your thoughts - what’s rising up as you read the passage again? Keep releasing the people pleasing, the distaste, the shame, and keep inviting God to speak to you anew.