Stimulating, Assembling, Encouraging - Hebrews 10 part 2

"And let us consider how to stimulate one another

to love and good deeds,

not forsaking our own assembling together,

as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,

and all the more, as you see the day drawing near."

(vs 24-25)

These are regularly quoted verses. Almost anytime you find yourself in a conversation regarding the importance of church attendance someone, most assuredly, will quote Hebrews 10:24-25. They'll do that with good reason. The verses apply!

In working my way through Hebrews, however, it struck me how 24-25 fit into the grand scheme of 1-39. We've just seen that chapter 10 begins with Christ - the once and for all sufficient sacrifice. As a result of His perfect atoning work we have seen that there are precious privileges that now belong to us, due entirely to His promise and His faithfulness. Verse 23 reminds us to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering" with Christ as our means and motivation so to do.

Verse 24 is a continuation of the "since" Christ / "Let us" pattern. We are commanded to hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering and one of the practical aids to accomplishing that is that we be actively involved in the communion of the saints. Just as we are to put off an unbelieving heart through putting on the encouragement of one another (3:12-13), so here we are to put off a wavering hope through stimulating one another. "And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together...."

Christians - we need one another. We are not lone wolves nor lone rangers. We are a body - connected, joined, united with each part serving an important role in the functioning, thriving and surviving of every other part!

We "ought to have a tender consideration and concern for one another. We are to exhort one another, to watch over one another, to be jealous of ourselves and one another with a godly jealousy. This is the best and greatest friendship." (Matthew Henry)

Do these verses describe the type of friend and church member that you are? Are conscientious about stimulating one another to love and good deeds? Are you serious about assembling together for worship and for fellowship or are you among those whose habit is otherwise? Are you encouraging your brothers and sisters in Christ and helping them to fix their eyes on the eternal prize?

If so - press on in the mercy and strength of Christ. If not - is it not time to be the type of friend Christ has called you to be? Friends - I need you in my face, you need me in yours. By His grace and for His glory may we be true, faithful, and stimulating friends.

Looking forward to this Lord's Day's assembling,

Lori