"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER"
Hebrews 10:24 Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. NLT.
Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:
1. This chapter is filled with various encouragements and teachings about the many blessings that we have in Jesus Christ, and these verses are encouraging us to be a blessing and encouragement to one another.
2. First of all, we are asked, to Hebrews 10:24 Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. This is something God calls us to do, and we can do it, and it's a sure fire way of helping one another out. Imagine that, to "think of ways to encourage one another" The NKJV says it this way, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,"
3. The idea in this text is that we would think of ways to stir one another up to love and good works. So, our focus is to help each other to walk in love, and to do the good works that God has put before them. How great is our God that He would direct us to minister to one another in this way. Usually, when we hear about "stirring up someone" it's in the negative, but here, is very positive and loving.
4. The other verse, is actually a warning. Hebrews 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. Notice, it's telling us "let us not neglect meeting together as some people do" So, there can be this tendency to not make fellowship with other believers one of our Godly priorities. The Bible places great emphasis on fellowship, because, it has such great benefits for us. We can make each other stronger in Christ when we are together, so, the Lord says, "don't neglect this"
5. Also, there is a final part to this warning/encouragement. Hebrews 10:25b "but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near." So, instead of neglecting fellowship, we are encouraged to "fellowship" and to warn each other. That is, we are to help protect each other, to warn each other of the dangers we face in our walks, and we are to do this all the more, now that we are closer to the coming of Christ. Jesus is in heaven today, but He is not going to stay there forever. He is waiting to come back to the earth. He is going to come and take His church to heaven, and then bring the great tribulation on the earth, and when that is over, He is going to come back with His church, to reign and to rule on the earth for 1000 years.
6. So, in the meantime, here again is what God says to us.
Hebrews 10:24 Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. NLT.
A prayer:
Father, thank You for making loving You, and loving each other the two most important commandments we have from You. You want to share Your love with us, and then through us with one another. You want us to enjoy Your love. Thank You that You have a plan for each of us, good works to walk in. And, thank You for our church bodies, that we can enjoy, that we can be encouraged by, and be an encouragement to. Jesus is coming back, and we are all the closer now, then when we first believed. So, Lord, help us to take Your Word to heart, to stay in close fellowship with one another, and to encourage each other to love and to good works, In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
