Stuck
Stuck
I am kind of stuck. I was privileged to preach out of Hebrews 10 this past week and I can’t seem to get the passage out of my head. I find myself meditating on it constantly. Thinking over the exhortations given in light of the truths of my forgiveness. Draw near to God, hold fast to our confession of hope, and not neglecting meeting together with fellow believers. Is my life a reflection of those works of the Spirit in light of the fact that Jesus is my great High Priest?
Let me share some of my thoughts concerning the last exhortation. Here is the full exhortation, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” Heb 10:25. If I were to take this verse at face value, which we should, then part of my day or part of my week should be spent thinking about, planning and then executing how to stir up, in others, love and good works. The author gives me some hints as to how I am to be doing this. He says that I should meet with them regularly and I should spend much of that time encouraging them. So my meditation has been simple. Am I completing this exhortation in my life? Are others motivated, by my life and words, to love more and to accomplish good works? I have learned, in the past, that I am hardly ever motivated by mere words. Right actions that accompany good words are what will motivate me. Words alone are weak. So, this exhortation is not about simply preaching to others that they should love more and do good things, it is about living those things in front of people and then encouraging them to do the same.
This reminds me of Philippians 2:3,4. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”. Great words of encouragement. Given to us by the Apostle Paul who poured out his life in the service of others. Word and actions. His motivation for this kind of attitude was Jesus. Jesus left heaven and came and lived among us and gave his life for others. Words and actions. Our lives are to reflect that same attitude. Don’t miss that. This kind of living starts with a correct mindset. A correct attitude. A correct way of thinking about our life.
You must get things done today. You have interests that need to be accomplished. But, today is not simply about you finishing the tasks you need to do. This day is about others also. Think about their interests. Think about how you can stir them up to greater love and good works. Think about how you can be present in their lives and how you can encourage them.
Life is not about you. We live for the glory of God and that is seen in our living our lives to encourage others to greater love and good works. This is especially true when we gather together each Sunday for worship. Our vertical worship of God results in the Spirit giving us the mindset of Jesus to get involved in others lives. To encourage them to greater love and good works.
So, meditate with me. Is your life reflecting this work of the Spirit in your life? Is the forgiveness of Jesus, our great High Priest, resulting in a life lived for others? Is today about you alone or about how you can motivate others?
I am kind of stuck. I was privileged to preach out of Hebrews 10 this past week and I can’t seem to get the passage out of my head. I find myself meditating on it constantly. Thinking over the exhortations given in light of the truths of my forgiveness. Draw near to God, hold fast to our confession of hope, and not neglecting meeting together with fellow believers. Is my life a reflection of those works of the Spirit in light of the fact that Jesus is my great High Priest?
Let me share some of my thoughts concerning the last exhortation. Here is the full exhortation, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” Heb 10:25. If I were to take this verse at face value, which we should, then part of my day or part of my week should be spent thinking about, planning and then executing how to stir up, in others, love and good works. The author gives me some hints as to how I am to be doing this. He says that I should meet with them regularly and I should spend much of that time encouraging them. So my meditation has been simple. Am I completing this exhortation in my life? Are others motivated, by my life and words, to love more and to accomplish good works? I have learned, in the past, that I am hardly ever motivated by mere words. Right actions that accompany good words are what will motivate me. Words alone are weak. So, this exhortation is not about simply preaching to others that they should love more and do good things, it is about living those things in front of people and then encouraging them to do the same.
This reminds me of Philippians 2:3,4. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”. Great words of encouragement. Given to us by the Apostle Paul who poured out his life in the service of others. Word and actions. His motivation for this kind of attitude was Jesus. Jesus left heaven and came and lived among us and gave his life for others. Words and actions. Our lives are to reflect that same attitude. Don’t miss that. This kind of living starts with a correct mindset. A correct attitude. A correct way of thinking about our life.
You must get things done today. You have interests that need to be accomplished. But, today is not simply about you finishing the tasks you need to do. This day is about others also. Think about their interests. Think about how you can stir them up to greater love and good works. Think about how you can be present in their lives and how you can encourage them.
Life is not about you. We live for the glory of God and that is seen in our living our lives to encourage others to greater love and good works. This is especially true when we gather together each Sunday for worship. Our vertical worship of God results in the Spirit giving us the mindset of Jesus to get involved in others lives. To encourage them to greater love and good works.
So, meditate with me. Is your life reflecting this work of the Spirit in your life? Is the forgiveness of Jesus, our great High Priest, resulting in a life lived for others? Is today about you alone or about how you can motivate others?
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