Verse of the Day 11/17

Verse of the Day 11/17

Hebrews 10:24-25

New International Version

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 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.

With the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic many churches were forced to forego their regular services for a time and many turned to online services.  It helped people stay connected to a point and still worship together in spirit, from their homes.  Things have pretty much gotten back to "normal" but not all have comne back to worship in church.  They have found it too easy to watch their church services online with their coffee; sitting in their pajamas than to drag themselves to church.

Today's verses are probably familiar to most of us, the author speaks of how we should "spur one another on", it is hard to do so if we are not with them.  Verse 24 begins with "let us consider how", it takes some forethought, and part of that forethought will be that we can't encourage one another, challenge one another, os sing praise together if we are not together.  But even if we are worshipping together in church, we shouldn't be going there aimlessly, we should consider how in being there we may spur or stir someone on to love and good deeds.

John Piper writes, "It is crystal clear in the Bible, including this text, that God means for us to aim consciously at something significant in our days.....God's revealed will for you is that when you get up in the morning, you don't drift aimlessly through the day letting mere circumstances alone dictate what you do, but that you aim at something — that you focus on a certain kind of purpose.......Aimlessness is akin to lifelessness. Dead leaves in the back yard may move around more than anything else — more than the dog, more than the children. The wind blows this way, they go this way. The wind blows that way, they go that way. They tumble, they bounce, they skip, they press against a fence, but they have no aim whatsoever. They are full of motion and empty of life. "

This is not only something for Sunday, but every day that ends in the letter Y.  The verses get to the bottom of what it means to be considerate, take some time to think about it and act upoon it.

We gather together
to ask the Lord's blessing;
he chastens and hastens
his will to make known.
The wicked oppressing
now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to his name,
he forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us,
our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining
his kingdom divine;
so from the beginning
the fight we were winning;
thou, Lord, wast at our side,
all glory be thine!

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Hebrews 10:23-25

New International Version

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 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.