October 10, 2018 KINGDOM LIVING part 4
Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”
Because we live in a culture of ‘individualism’ and ‘independence,’ we may find ourselves not practicing the ‘one another’ scriptures. This emphasis on individualism and independence has also resulted in a failure to understand and practice body life as depicted in the New Testament. It is a clear teaching of scripture that believers are connected to one another and need one another if we are to mature in Christ and represent Him to the world. The body functioning as the body of Christ together and in harmony will have its intended impact on the world in which we live. In the verses above, we are instructed to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” As in all cases, the message of the ‘one another’ verses is clear. We are to think of ways in which we can encourage and stimulate others to express love-the love that God has poured into our hearts; love is to be expressed-not kept in side and not just in thought only. Love expresses itself in good deeds; let us be alert to the needs of others and find ways in which we can be a part of meeting that need-because we love them. We can either focus on loving others, are we can focus on self. These verses also point out the need for believers to assemble together, to spend time together. Today, all too often, going to church, or assembling together, is viewed as an option rather than a mandate from scripture. The truth is, that assembling together is one of the greatest needs we have-whether we realize it or not. When believers assemble together, it is to be a time of teaching, proclaiming the word of God, worshiping, fellowshipping, and exercising our spiritual gifting. When we are not involved as a member of the body of Christ, we are incomplete, lacking what the body supplies to each member. In our day, we do face a challenge in this matter of church and body life. The church as a whole has strayed from the biblical picture of what the church is to be and how it is to function; it has become more of an institution rather than the body of Christ. But, we can be assured of the fact that God will restore the church to the place where it will be all that He intended-a true light in the darkness. In the meantime, let us not write off the church, but let us learn from the scriptures how the church is to function as the living body of Christ, and let us encourage others, finding ways that we can regain true church life. For example, one thing we can do is to invite other believers into our home, or the local coffee shop for the purpose of encouraging one another in the things of the Lord. May we be a part of the church finding its way back to the pattern we see in the New Testament.
Romans 12:5 “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”
Because we live in a culture of ‘individualism’ and ‘independence,’ we may find ourselves not practicing the ‘one another’ scriptures. This emphasis on individualism and independence has also resulted in a failure to understand and practice body life as depicted in the New Testament. It is a clear teaching of scripture that believers are connected to one another and need one another if we are to mature in Christ and represent Him to the world. The body functioning as the body of Christ together and in harmony will have its intended impact on the world in which we live. In the verses above, we are instructed to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” As in all cases, the message of the ‘one another’ verses is clear. We are to think of ways in which we can encourage and stimulate others to express love-the love that God has poured into our hearts; love is to be expressed-not kept in side and not just in thought only. Love expresses itself in good deeds; let us be alert to the needs of others and find ways in which we can be a part of meeting that need-because we love them. We can either focus on loving others, are we can focus on self. These verses also point out the need for believers to assemble together, to spend time together. Today, all too often, going to church, or assembling together, is viewed as an option rather than a mandate from scripture. The truth is, that assembling together is one of the greatest needs we have-whether we realize it or not. When believers assemble together, it is to be a time of teaching, proclaiming the word of God, worshiping, fellowshipping, and exercising our spiritual gifting. When we are not involved as a member of the body of Christ, we are incomplete, lacking what the body supplies to each member. In our day, we do face a challenge in this matter of church and body life. The church as a whole has strayed from the biblical picture of what the church is to be and how it is to function; it has become more of an institution rather than the body of Christ. But, we can be assured of the fact that God will restore the church to the place where it will be all that He intended-a true light in the darkness. In the meantime, let us not write off the church, but let us learn from the scriptures how the church is to function as the living body of Christ, and let us encourage others, finding ways that we can regain true church life. For example, one thing we can do is to invite other believers into our home, or the local coffee shop for the purpose of encouraging one another in the things of the Lord. May we be a part of the church finding its way back to the pattern we see in the New Testament.
Romans 12:5 “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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