READING: Hebrews 6-10
When I was a young teenage believer, I rebelled just enough that I would occasionally skip church for a few weeks in a row. Inevitably when I did, some well-meaning brother or sister in Christ would challenge me to come back by quoting Hebrews 10:25 — “not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
While that text certainly calls us to gather together and encourage one another — especially in light of Jesus’ imminent return — my friends seldom quoted the verse that precedes Hebrews 10:25 — “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). They wanted me at church, but they didn’t often urge me (that is, “provoke” or “spur” or “stimulate”) me to live faithfully every other day.
All of us need somebody in our life who loves us enough to challenge us to turn from sin and adore Christ, knowing that He could return any day. That’s one of the reasons God places us in a local church body — to connect us with the person or people who will play this imperative role in our life. He divinely intersects our lives because He wants us to honor Him with righteous living.
Who is that person for you today? And, are you that person for somebody else? Who will be more holy today because you challenged him or her to be so?
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you have that person in your life?
PRAYER: “Father, give me others who spur me on to follow You.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Hebrews 11-13, James 1
*First published in 2015