“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

We are to outdo one another in spurring one another, encouraging one another, nudging one another toward love and good deeds. And one of the primary ways we do this is by encouraging one another to not give up meeting together in worship. Our place in worship – whether online or in person – is essential to a growing faith.

When you show up for worship on Sundays, take a look around you. Who is missing? Note who’s absent and give them a call to let them know that they were missed. Ask if they are doing ok.

I am not sure who wrote the following, but I like it says about worship:

If you go to church looking to become offended, you will succeed.
If you go to church looking for places where people fall short, you will find them.
If you go to church looking for imperfection, you will see it.
But if you go to church looking for an opportunity to worship alongside broken people, you will find it.
If you go to church looking for a place to serve, you will find one.
If you go to church to love people like Jesus, you can.
Ten out of ten times…you find what you are looking for.

Look for Jesus.

“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.

“You will be hated by everyone because of me…” (Matthew 10:22).

So…

The statement is true.

• We will die and we will face judgment.
• Without Jesus, we will be damned.
• God’s wrath against sinners will be poured out.

This is all true.

But…dang…this is not the way to communicate God’s love for sinners!!!

Jesus told us that his followers will be hated. But Jesus didn’t say that his followers will be hated because they are annoying or because they are jerks. Jesus told us that we would be hated because of Jesus, because of his name. Just as the world hated Jesus, so the world will hate those who follow and live like Jesus.

The last thing Jesus was, was a jerk!

I like the way @aussiedave put it. He says, “If people hate you because of Jesus, that’s expected. If people hate Jesus because of you, that’s a problem.”

@aussiedave is right. Be merciful as Jesus is merciful. Be kind as Jesus is kind. Be gracious as Jesus is gracious. Being like Jesus will be more than enough for a world that wants to go on sinning to hate Jesus followers.