|
News for the Pews |
Home
22nd August 2024
ThursdayReflection
************************
Steve Brandon shares
Rock Valley Bible Church
Stimulate to Love and Good Deeds
Hebrews 10:24-25
************************
And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
This verse is a simple call to do what God calls all believers to do.
Jesus said it as plainly as anyone else,
"If you love Me, you will keep my commandments."
Love one another, just as I have loved you"
Love for Jesus will compel us to love one another.
"Let us consider how to stimulate one another."
This is the call of God upon our lives.
See, it's not merely enough to be engaged in love and good deeds.
God's call upon our life is to bring others along in love and good deeds.
So, "How is this to be done?"
Get to know others at the church, and study them.
You ask them questions.
You find out their strengths. You find out their weaknesses.
When you see something commendable, honour them by telling them that you noticed God's work in them in a specific way.
This would encourage them to pursue these things more.
Now, the extent of these things is broad.
This can go on all over the place in many different forms and in many different circumstances.
Notice that it's not a program issued from the leadership of the church.
Rather, it's a grassroots movement of those in the church, in which the people of the church are involved in each others' lives to such an extent that they know each other well enough to urge them on to love and good deeds.
Now, this takes time and it takes effort.
And it's not easy. Yet, it's the call of Biblical Christianity.
You can't merely attend some church service and think that you have fulfilled your God-ordained call in your life.
We are called to live in community with one another, to love one another, to serve one another, to help one another.
And so, I ask you: are you doing this?
Are you actively engaged in thinking of how you might stimulate others to love and good deeds?
Now, for the original readers, this danger was of crucial importance.
The big temptation for them was to go back into their old, familiar Judaism.
The big temptation for them was to go back to the priests and offer up their sacrifices.
Our problems are similar.
We may not be tempted to return to Judaism, but we are easily pulled away by the attraction of the world.
This is our pull. It's the pull of materialism.
And so, what do we need beyond anything?
We need to hear others talk of the things to come.
We need to see others act upon their faith.
So, I encourage you to speak with each other about God.
Let your conversations be spiritual.
Let your conversations be Bible-saturated.
Speak much of the glories of God and of Christ.
Set your minds upon the things above, and draw the minds of others there as well.
Such will be an encouragement to others to "press on," which is our great need.
Perhaps you have heard the often repeated story of the pastor who visited a man who had not attended his church in quite some time.
The man told the pastor,
"I'm still a Christian. But, I don't think that I need to go to church anymore."
The pastor gave no reply.
Instead, he took the tongs from the fireplace that was heating the room.
He removed one coal, placing it in the corner of the fireplace away from the other coals.
The lone coal soon went out. But, when placed back into the heat of the fire, it caught again.
The man got the message and was in church the next Sunday.
The story is old, but the point needs to be made once again.
You need to be with the saints to be encouraged on to love and good deeds.
And that's the point of verse 25, ...
Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see 'the day' drawing near.
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
Steve Brandon
Rock Valley Bible Church
After graduating from high school, I went to Knox College, in Galesburg, Illinois, where I was involved in a small Fellowship of Christian Athletes group on campus.
In fact, one year, I was president of the group.
Yet, I still had little knowledge of the Bible or understanding of biblical ministry.
After graduating from college, I went to the Master's Seminary in Los Angeles to study the Bible.
I graduated in 1992 with a Master's of Divinity degree, and married Yvonne, a California girl.
While serving Kishwaukee Bible Church as a lay pastor and worship leader, God continued to increase my love for the local church.
It was a great joy to see God grow Kishwaukee Bible Church from a few families to the strong church that it is today.
Contact the Rector
The Revd.
Nic.Edwards
The Rectory,
Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE,
Northampton,
NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 - 815496
(Can be accessed from the mobile device)
Mobile: .....
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed,, Thur., Fri.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
Who Made This?
Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful
advice or report factual corrections and
'deliberate mistakes',email:-
regparker3 at gmail dot com
Email addresses shown using words in an
attempt to avoid 'spam',
Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@',
and 'dot' with '.'
|