See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. (Hebrews 3:12-14)

Last week Friday, we talked about the choice between life and death that Moses set before the people. A life of obedience or death in disobedience. The writer of Hebrews reflects on Israel’s history, recognizing that many chose the path of disobedience. Today, we can make a different choice.

Our choice though is not quite as stark as the one set before the Israelites. Why not? Because God now assumes our disobedience and so meets us in our sin with the mercy, grace, and forgiveness in Christ necessary to enable a new life of obedience in us.

This is a work of God in Christ through the Spirit from beginning to end.

Even so, we still have a part to play as we seek to get in on it and walk out our following of Jesus in a life obediently submitted to his ways.

The choice comes to us daily. Every day that is called “today” is a new, fresh opportunity to choose to respond to Christ in obedience. Every “today” is a new and fresh opportunity to daily take up our cross and follow him.

Perhaps you haven’t chosen to walk out any sort of obedient faithfulness in the last days, weeks, or even months. Or, maybe your obedience has been characterized by a series of fits and starts. Doesn’t matter. Because God’s grace does not meet you in the past. So there’s no need to wallow in guilt. Nor does God’s grace meet you in the future. To put off the decision is just procrastination.

No: God’s grace meets you TODAY. Now. In the present. The only moment that you have in which you can ever respond to God in faithfulness is this one. Right here. Right now. Today.

No matter how many days of unfaithfulness have piled up behind you: only one day matters. Today.

So, today, choose life. Choose to follow Jesus. And when tomorrow becomes today: choose it again. Do it on the next today too. And even if you miss a day, don’t worry: a new today is coming with fresh mercies new every morning. Any and every fresh new day that we call today is an opportunity for a new and fresh decision to follow Jesus.

Encourage one another therefore, on every today as long as it is called today. Because today is the day to follow Jesus.