Sabbath Thought - Stir Up Love

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching," (Hebrews 10:24-25).

There is so much packed in these two verses.  What does it mean to "consider" one another?  What kind of "provoking" should we be doing?  What does it mean to not "forsake"?  What does it mean to "exhort"?

The word "consider" means to perceive, observe, or understand.  These words show a mental involvement in someone else's life.  It is not just a casual "how are you?"  It is seeing if their words line up with what we might see expressed through their body.  Do we truly consider one another?  Do we show up at Sabbath services for what we can receive, or what we can give to someone else?

It can be easy for us to stir up each other in the wrong way or for the wrong reasons.  The Greek word Paul is using here for "stir up" rather means "incite to good".  The Sabbath day is a gift from God for us to incite each other to good things.  The best thing for us to incite each other to do is to become like God.

"Forsake" means "to leave behind something".  That Greek word also has the added meaning of no longer taking part in something.  The Sabbath assembly is a sacred assembly called by God.  It is one thing to miss a Sabbath service because of health, or extreme weather, a family emergency or similar reasons.  It is another thing to make a conscious decision to not be at services.  Being by ourselves watching sermon videos online on the Sabbath is not "assembling" - especially when local services are available.

Exhorting in the Greek means to "call near, or to invite".  God is calling us to be near to Him and is inviting us to assemble before Him on His Sabbath day.  God wants us to be with Him - and more directly, to be by His side.  The Greek word has a sub-meaning of consoling or encouraging.  God does call us before Him for us to worship Him, but He also seeks to console and strengthen us as we are close to Him.

On this Sabbath day we have much to think about as God's children.  As we assemble together before God, let's remember to consider one another, to stir each other up, to exhort one another.  May we do even more so as we see this world failing and the return of Jesus Christ approaching.

I wish you a profitable and value filled Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

20 August, 2021