Spur One Another

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

Hmmm.

I don’t like it when I get spurred. It hurts. It stings.

What is interesting about the verse of the day is that it tells disciples to spur one another toward love and good deeds. We are to encourage, nudge, peer-pressure, spur one another to love and good deeds. We do that by practicing love and doing good deeds. We are to create such an environment where we spur one another to outdo one another in acts of love and good deeds.

That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul encourages us to do in Romans 12:10, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (ESV).

Can you imagine a church like that? A church that peer-pressures one another to love and good deeds. A church that outdoes one another in acts of service and showing honor to one another.

Wow!

Last thing – there’s a moment when spurring becomes spearing. When encouragement becomes demand, when a nudge becomes a shove. People die when speared.

The aim of our spurring is for the building up. The aim of spearing is for killing. Know the difference.