“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).
You know when you are baking a cake, you start putting the ingredients into a bowl. But to make it good, you must stir ‘em up. Then the taste will start being developed. And when it all gets to the heated oven, great results happen. Also, when you call a group meeting to convene, you don’t just let them sit there for a period of time. They eventually leave, with nothing accomplished. You had a specific purpose and plan, and a call to action. That’s when you lay it all out and you stir ‘em up with your vision and encouragement.
That’s what the Spirit through the writer of Hebrews is telling us. He wants us to stir up one another to love and good works in the kingdom of God. For the poor, needy, lost, even our fellow believers who are needing discipleship or engagement. We can’t operate alone. We need to meet and encourage one another. Iron sharpening iron! And since our days are limited here on earth, we all want to fulfill our purpose, and to help others in the kingdom fulfill their purpose. We can’t say, I’ll put it off till tomorrow or next week or next year. Now is the time to act.
And the emphasis at the end of these two verses is meant to be a challenge, and an awakening to each one of us. He says all the more as you see the Day drawing near. What is that Day? It’s the Day when we will meet our Lord face to face. The Spirit is trying to stir us up to see the need and urgency, to not take the road of complacency. With whom are you meeting, who is encouraging you, who are you encouraging? Let none of us show up empty handed on that Day! Continue to meet with your Brothers and Sisters and stir ‘em up!