Oh man, oh man, it was so great to get back to Bible study this morning! I had forgotten how much I missed studying God's Word with this group of amazing women. I had forgotten about the joy of laughter, of listening, of leaning in to the heart of God with a bunch of women who are also seeking to live for and love God...imperfect and faith-amnesiacs, though we may often be! But praise God, it's not about our faithfulness, but about His. And double praise God for GRACE!
Just feeling grateful today for the gift of community. Aren't you thankful God didn't make us to try to figure this out by ourselves? And so often, that can be our tendency--just grit our teeth and try to get through it on our own. It often requires a crisis of some kind, a time where we know we cannot do it on our own, that God reminds us of the incalculable gift of fellowship and community.
So I hope you'll forgive me, but as I was thinking about the blessing of fellowship, I thought I would include a few thoughts from today's passage in Bible study--Hebrews 10. Verses 24 and 25 comprise the third of three "Let us" exhortations given by the author of Hebrews. These three exhortations are great, practical stuff that encourage us in the way our beliefs should be translated into our behavior. In the next day or two, I may go back and talk about the first two "Let us" exhortations, but for today, here's the third one--"let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."
What a happy reminder these verses are, that God puts us into families, friendships and in relationship with one another, because we need each other. We need to cheer, challenge, and comfort one another. We ALL need to be encouraged in our faith, and when we come together at church or Bible study or even just with friends, we need to be looking for ways to strengthen and build each other up. We get that encouragement from God’s Word and His powerful promises upon which our faith is built. But equally important, we get that encouragement when someone else who’s trusting in God’s promises comes along and inspires us to trust as well!
Don’t you love it when you’re struggling or discouraged, and the Lord brings a friend into your path--maybe in the grocery store, or in an exercise class, or in the hall outside of church--and God uses that person to lift your eyes to Him and to strengthen your flagging heart? Because here’s the thing: when we see someone else holding fast to their hope, even in the ups and downs of life, well then, we’re encouraged to do the same. Some days you’ll be the one God uses to strengthen someone else, and other days it will be someone else doing it for you, but we’ve got to be together in community so we can do that for one another.
Just practically, can I ask you: who might need your encouragement today? Maybe you’ve been planning to write that note of appreciation or make that phone call to cheer someone up, but you just never got around to it. As the Nike ad says, “Just do it!” If you’re feeling discouraged or worried, there’s nothing like getting your focus off yourself and your circumstances and build up someone else. Ask God to give you a heart that looks for ways to strengthen and stir up others to good works, and you’ll discover He’ll strengthen and fill your heart with joy as well.
Okay, that's it for today--but just asking, have you thanked God lately for the gift of fellowship and friendship? Don't take it for granted! And secondly, will you ask God to show you someone you can encourage today? Look for opportunities to share the life-giving Word...in your home, school, grocery store, basketball game, carpool line.
God's always working and moving, and He may be calling you to be the one to share His love and hope with someone else who desperately needs to hear it today.
To God be the glory.
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