“Stimulating One Another to LOVE and GOOD WORKS”: Hebrews 10:24-25
Dr. Gary M. Barker
Newspaper Article Published 10.9.19
God expects believers to have a positive influence on other believers when they assemble and gather together in church. This is what the writer of Hebrews encouraged believers to do. There are some things that need to be done in order to accomplish what is stated in Hebrews 10:24-25. First, believers are to carefully think about one another. The verb “consider” in verse 24 literally means to carefully think about someone or something. This is possible as people in the church get to personally know one another. A believer attending church SHOULD BE MORE concerned about being a positive beneficial influence on other people than getting something from them. Mature believers are givers not getters. This action is to be continuous. We are commanded to constantly be thinking about how we can be helping others grow spiritually. What we are to carefully think about is how we can stimulate other believers to be more loving toward people and to be doing good works that will bless other people. Secondly, I personally believe that the best way to stimulate and encourage others is achieved by two positive actions: 1) Being an example; 2) Being an exhorter who encourages people to do good things thru positive words. This is the meaning of the word translated “encouraging” in Hebrews 10:25. The word literally means to call a person to your side and encourage and exhort them to do something with positive words. This is one of the ministries that believes can have with one another
Positive, verbal stimulation is to produce two actions that will be a great blessing to any local church. People will be encouraged to become more loving and to become more productive in doing good works. When these two actions increase in a local church, attending will become a very positive and productive experience. The writer in Hebrews 10:25 gives a prohibition that will cause these beneficial actions to not happen: “Not forsaking our own assembling together as is the habit of some.” The word “forsake” means to abandon or withdraw from associating with other people. When people stop attending church, it is impossible for them to stimulate others to love and good works. This is not the will of God. God expects His people to regularly assemble together and positively influence one another to practice loving one another and to be more productive in doing good works (Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:14).
May God help us to be positive and helpful encouragers and exhorterss when we attend church. Let’s do our best to make attending church be a helpful and happy experie