Bound to Encourage
Read: Hebrews 10:19–25
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24
The Steven Thompson Memorial Centipede is a cross-country meet
unlike any other. Each seven-member team runs as a unit, holding a rope
for the first two miles of a three-mile course. At the two-mile mark,
the team drops the rope and finishes the race individually. Each
person’s time is, therefore, a combination of the pace the team kept and
his or her own speed.
This year, my daughter’s team opted for a strategy I had not previously seen: They put the fastest runner at the front and the slowest right behind her. She explained that their goal was for the strongest runner to be near enough to speak words of encouragement to the slowest runner.
Their plans depicted for me a passage from the book of Hebrews. The writer urges us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (Hebrews 10:23) as we “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (v. 24). There are certainly many ways of accomplishing this, but the author highlighted one: “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (v. 25). Gathering together with other believers as we’re able is a vital aspect of the life of faith.
The race of life can feel like more than we can handle at times, and we may be tempted to drop the rope in hopelessness. As we run together, let’s offer one another the encouragement to run strong!
This year, my daughter’s team opted for a strategy I had not previously seen: They put the fastest runner at the front and the slowest right behind her. She explained that their goal was for the strongest runner to be near enough to speak words of encouragement to the slowest runner.
Their plans depicted for me a passage from the book of Hebrews. The writer urges us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (Hebrews 10:23) as we “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (v. 24). There are certainly many ways of accomplishing this, but the author highlighted one: “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (v. 25). Gathering together with other believers as we’re able is a vital aspect of the life of faith.
The race of life can feel like more than we can handle at times, and we may be tempted to drop the rope in hopelessness. As we run together, let’s offer one another the encouragement to run strong!
Jesus, thank You for the hope You offer. Thank You for never discouraging us. Help us imitate You by encouraging each other today.
Encouragement is water to the soul.
This passage ties in nicely with the passage in Ecclesiastes 4:12 in the New Living Translation
ReplyDelete"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
I got to see this from a cultural stand point when I worked in Japan playing first violin in the Tokyo Philharmonic. The members themselves were not necessarily first rate players but they excelled as an ensemble because they had the mindset to work together towards a common goal. I am thinking how they body of Christ would fare if some of the believers could put away petty differences and work together as a team towards the Kingdom work with an attitude of Love. Good devotional.
The writer urges us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (Hebrews 10:23) as we “spur one another on toward love and good deeds”. I love this passage. I think life groups and fellowship is such a wonderful gift we as believers have. it's a time to come together and share out faith, our struggles, our doubts and to lean on one another for comfort and support. The Lord created us to be relational people and to engage in relationships. If we continue to encourage each-other than that is how we will stay accountable and on track. Thank you Lord for creating relationships and letting us as believers have a safe place to share with.
ReplyDeleteI find solace in the encouragement this passage gives us about going to church! We simply cannot do this alone... the body of Christ helps us along the way.
ReplyDelete