Pastor’s Thoughts – 06-15-2025

As we approach Father’s Day and give thanks to God for the special relationship God has given us with our fathers, it is also a good time to reflect on the importance of relations we have as Christians with one another. We know that we are to foremost love God, and to love one another. This is the great and necessary commandment. Knowing the sinful nature of mankind, we understand why God would put such emphasis upon this. Because we are born in sin, we are naturally self-centered. The horrible nature of our condition is seen by the first man born, Cain, who out of jealousy murdered his own brother. Scripture tells us graphically about our natural condition when it addresses our tendency toward others, “Their feet are swift to shed blood” (Rom. 3:15). Our righteous relations with others do not come naturally and are easily offended.  The old song that says, “What the world needs now is love sweet love” is true. If there were true love being displayed by everyone, a radical, wonderful transformation of our world would occur beyond a measure of current recognition. This is of course what Christ will establish in His coming kingdom. But, for now, we live in a world not known for its love, but for strife, contention, hatred, and war.  All these things are because of our sinful condition which promotes such actions.

There are many verses from our Lord concerning our relationships with one another, but for this week I want to focus on an important commanding verse out of Hebrews, “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 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” (Hebrews 10:24-25). The reason such a command can be made is because in Christ there is a change of nature. Those born of God are not yet perfected in a glorified state, but we do have a new nature (2 Cor 5:17). The reason the Lord commands us to love and expects us to be obedient to His command (John 14:15) is because of our new nature. Among the last words of our Lord before going to the cross was His command, “This I command you, that you love one another” (John 15:17). The inspired writer of Hebrews is telling us how this love is seen in action in our day-to-day circumstances. How are we to show our love to our brethren? He says, “And let us consider how to simulate one another to love and good deeds.” The word, “consider” in the Greek means to contemplate and spend effort thinking on how we can benefit another Christian. It is in a manner saying, “Take time and effort to come to the very best approach to what we can do or be in benefit for a fellow Christian.” We are to stimulate or encourage fellow Christians to love and good deeds. Before we throw the idea away as a given, think with me of how most people spend their consideration and energy in approaching others. It is rare to encourage increased love and the output of good deeds. Most often our approaches are either in criticism or with our own self-centered agenda or ideas. Too often we have allowed ourselves to be offended, and instead of doing what this verse says, we are thinking about how we can get back at the other person or at the least defend our own agenda. Is this not also what the unsaved world does?

This verse also shows our correctly focused need for one another and our purpose with one another by stating, “Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” The key word here is “encouraging.” This focus by the context is an encouragement in the ways, commands, and manner of living for the Lord. It is iron sharpening iron so that our faith is actively growing and our joy in the Lord is continually being advanced. Then the writer gives the practical reason for this, He says, “And all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25b). Those in Christ have their blessed hope fixed on the promise of our Lord’s coming. Knowing this, what should we be doing? We should be doing just what we have been instructed to do. Our time is not to be spent as those of the world who know not Christ, but as those who in every manner seek spiritual, eternally focused benefit to others. We need each other, and God has given us each other not only now, but for eternity. It is so special to meet with one another around God’s Word on Sunday, and on other special occasions. The question we all should ask ourselves is, are we making the most of our encounters with others? Are we doing just what we are commanded to do here? What the world needs now is love, and the Christians are on exhibit to show that very thing by their love for one another and for others! Contemplate just how blessed we are as Christians to know God, to have one another, and to have the precious instruction from our Lord as to how we are to serve Him through one another. We are privileged and blessed to do so. May God help us to follow Him!