Jump Start # 1375

Hebrews 10:24 “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds”

Our passage today is the third in a series of “Let Us” expressions. I appreciate how it is worded. The text doesn’t say, ‘You need to…” or, “you ought to,” or, even, “I did.” Rather, it’s a LET US. Us—you and me. Us-being together. A single person is not an us. It takes more than one to make an us. You and others become an us.

Our verse also reminds us that they were to think about others. Consider, it says, how to stimulate one another. Consider how to do that. Consider the best way. Too often, when it comes to thinking, we only think about ourselves. We want others to do for us. We want to be pampered, praised and noticed. But that’s not the direction here. That’s never the direction with Jesus. He never tells us to praise ourselves. He never tells us to ignore others and take care of only yourself. Not Jesus. He tells us the story of the good Samaritan. And He ends that story with a “Go and do thou likewise.” Go put that story into action. Go live that story. Do it.

So we are to consider others. We are to consider how to stimulate them. Another word might be, move them. Another could be, encourage them. They are to be stimulated to love and good deeds. We need some kicking in the pants now and then to get us moving. We need reminders. We need someone to point the way. We need a trail blazer. We need someone to cut a path through the wilderness. In my area, Daniel Boone is a hero. He was just like that. He found and made trails through the wilderness that others would follow. He was a leader. Shepherds are like that. Remember the great Psalms 23? “He leads me beside quiet waters,” and, “He guides me in the paths of righteousness…” Led by the shepherd.

I have found through the years, if you ask someone or include them, usually, they’ll do it. Some have a hard time seeing things. It’s that “open your eyes” concept when Jesus told the disciples about the fields being white for harvest. Some can walk right past the fields and never notice that they are ready for harvest. I’m not sure what folks can be thinking about, but some simply do not see it. The open your eyes concept helps us to be the Lord’s hands, feet and eyes. We help others when we see their needs.

Jesus saw little Zacchaeus up in that tree. Jesus saw the bent over woman in the synagogue. Jesus sees the smallest and simplest of gifts, such as a cup of cold water given to a thirsty soul. Jesus sees. It helps when we can see things like Jesus did.

Our passage identifies two areas to stimulate one another in. First, Love. This is not an emotion. It is not a feeling. It is about caring. Compassion leads to service. If one cares, he goes. If one cares, he does. Jesus had compassion upon the multitudes and He fed them. Jesus felt compassion and healed the blind. Stimulated to love. This may lead to someone apologizing. This may lead to someone forgiving. Maybe it’s way past due. Maybe they feel that they just can’t take that step. Consider how to stimulate them to love…Reason with them. Show them. Help them. Teach them.

The other area that we need some stimulating is in good deeds. Sometimes we just allow others to do that. We let others take the food. We let others do the work. We let others serve. In many congregations, it’s the older members who are doing most of this. It may be that they have the time. It may be that they have the money. Young families are limited, but they are not excluded. The older generation gets tired of always doing. They wonder what will happen when they are gone. Who will pick up the work after them? That’s a good question to have. That is a concern. That is something to think about. Possibly, the older crowd ought to include a younger family and together they serve others. Together, one teaches the other and one encourages the other.

I wonder if the bulk of our stimulating one another is left to sermons. The sermon can stir us. The sermon can motivate us. The sermon can help. But I do not feel that is the extent of this. The passage is not directed to preachers only. It was directed to all those who heard those words read. So, some of our stimulating will come not from the pulpit, but also, and most often, from one another. Each other, doing what we can. Each other, doing what we ought to. Each other.

This is what parents do. They encourage their little ones to play together and be nice. They encourage and show their littles ones how to make their bed and pick up their toys. As they get bigger, they show them how to help others. They start doing for others.

Some may have never been shown those things by their parents. It may be that their parents were never shown. One generation tends to pass one what they know. If they never know, then they can’t pass that on. Some never thought about helping someone else unless there was a real crisis. A neighbor has a tree down and you’ll get all the guys showing up with saws. Someone has a car in a ditch and there will be folks stopping by to help. That’s good and that’s the way it ought to be. However, without a crisis we can be rather unfriendly to one another. We need some stimulation. We need someone to point the direction for us. Praying for someone, is a great thing to do. Who doesn’t need a pray these days? Giving something to someone for no other reason than you’re being nice.

Those good deeds done, may be the very thing that opens the door to a closed heart. We can doctrine someone to death. There is a place for teaching doctrine. We’d never discount that. That’s how a person will learn Christ and be saved. It’s a must. But some can be rather cold and indifferent why pushing doctrine. Showing some love and good deeds can melt the hardest hearts. So the guy won’t take you up on your invitation to come to worship, still be nice and generous with him. So the guy doesn’t want any more Bible studies with you. Don’t write him off and shun him. Be nice and generous with him.

We need to encourage one another in these things. We need to be the cheerleaders yelling on the sidelines of life for one another. We need to let others know that we count on them, believe in them and are with them.

Let us consider…give it some thought.

Roger