and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. [hebrews 10:24-25]
consider….. a verb, to think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision.
every word has meaning. “consider” heightens how we are to stir up each other in the body. it shows action in planning and decisions. how often are we truly pursuing the body? interceding in prayer, encouraging one another to submit to the father, crying out for a brothers struggle?
“consider” shows us how we are to be.
”consider” shows intentionality in how we stir.
most of us can relate to what it feels like to be isolated. whether it’s from family relationships, parental figures or at points, the church. isolation (whether it was sought out or fallen into) can breed doubt, discouragement and allow lies to grow.
take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. but exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by deceitfulness of sin. [hebrews 3:12-13]
when we encourage, we aren’t just seeking companionship or friendship. we are actively fighting deceit! we are called to stir up one another to love and good works for God’s glory. we are to stir each other towards community and away from isolation to be a part of the body of christ. to share our testimony and to show God’s move.
as believers, as God’s chosen, we are the church. how can we intentionally pursue each other? while there may be many methods and techniques to show intentionality, let’s start with the most important….. prayer.
let’s pray for a heart of pursuit like Jesus. ask him to soften our hearts and to see those in isolation. pray for our hearts to break for the broken. pray for one person that the Lord has put on your heart this morning. ask him how he wants you to pursue them and trust his voice.
~ joe lorsung