Hebrews 13:12-13 says, “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.”
When the Israelites escaped Egypt, they marched together as one camp. Within the camp, there was safety. When the tabernacle was built, it was placed in the middle of the camp. Safety, cleanliness, and community existed inside the camp. Those are hard things to give up. But the Hebrew Christians were exhorted to go to the Lord “outside the camp.”
Turning to Jesus isn’t easy. It requires us to go against the crowd. It requires us to leave the supposed safety of what we know for the promised safety of the Lord. It requires sacrifice and courage. Sometimes, it even involves suffering. But outside the camp is where we meet the Lord. Are you ready to leave the familiar camp behind, share Christ’s reproach, and seek His saving presence outside the camp?