Daily Devotion, February 15, 2022

Devotion:

Read Hebrews 10:24-25.

Our passage begins with Paul asking believers to consider how to spur one another on. The original meaning of “spur” was to "stir up, arouse, to excite, to call into action," God is calling us to stir each other up to act for good. An illustration of this phrase “stir up” is a hornet’s nest. Have you ever stirred up a hornet’s nest? You hit the nest and they are quickly stirred up and excited (and usually you are too!) Those hornets leave the nest and quickly! Fortunately, we are not called to inflict painful stings upon one another (like the hornets are fond of doing), but we are called to stir each other up, spur one another on, and encourage each other “to love and good deeds.” Where does this stirring up to love and good works occur? It occurs primarily through the local church. We read that we should “not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some.” Evidently, the members of the Early Church had been neglecting the habit of meeting together. He encourages them and us to be intentional about meeting together in order to support and encourage each other. We live in a culture where many voices and choices compete for our attention. On any given Sunday, we are faced with the choice to attend church or spend our time elsewhere. As a young married, I had a Sunday School teacher who gave the class a “call to action.” He said, “Instead of deciding each Sunday morning whether or not to attend church, make one decision.” He encouraged us to make a lifetime decision to be faithful in our Sunday worship. I’m thankful for how that teacher spurred me on. Paul is reminding us that Christians should regard it as a sacred duty to meet together for the worship of God.

Personal Worship Option:

Commit today to be intentional about meeting together for worship. Connect with others so that you can encourage them toward love and good deeds.