Each Other: One Reason We All Need Church
Daily Scripture
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. 25 Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
The writer of Hebrews urged Christians not to give up meeting together. They needed each other to grow in faith. Roman persecution made regular meetings risky but vital. “Mutual care is especially important for a community experiencing harassment…. Some who had formerly believed were beginning to stop meeting together regularly for worship.” * Even if we don’t face oppression, we need each other’s inspiration and support. The church is where we “spark” one another to love and good deeds.
- The letter to the Hebrews urged Christians to “spark” one another to love and good deeds. This wasn’t about criticism (other translations use language like “spur on” or “encourage”), but about active inspiration to live like Jesus. Think about your church relationships. Who are some of the people who have inspired you to grow in faith? How could you encourage someone else this week?
- Some Christians had stopped attending worship gatherings, weakening their personal faith and the faith community. The writer knew isolation would make it harder to stay faithful to Jesus. What factors tug at you to disconnect from church? How has being part of a faith community nurtured your spiritual journey? What important growth motivations will you miss out on if you disconnect?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I’m thankful I don’t have to do this “faith” thing all alone. Thank you for the people, in history and in my day-to-day life, who encourage and cheer me on. Amen.
GPS Insights
Amy Oden
Dr. Amy Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality, teaching at several seminaries. Teaching is her calling, and she looks forward to every day with students. Her latest book (Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness, Abingdon Press, 2017) traces ancient mindfulness practice for Christians today.
Are you your own worst critic? Many of us live daily in a toxic cacophony of inner voices, commenting, judging, diminishing our work and our lives. This becomes debilitating over time, leading us further and further away from God’s dream for us.
This is why we need the church, to help us see who we really are–dwelling places for Christ. In the church, we see ourselves more clearly, we name our gifts and are called into the world to serve. This usually happens through small groups (e.g., Bible study, grief group, mission group) where we get to know each other deeply, where we learn the circumstances, joys and struggles of each other’s lives. Here we can be real and unguarded. Here we can hear the truth about ourselves, no matter how beautiful! * As others see Christ in us, we can begin to see Christ in ourselves, shining and blessing others. This is radical stuff!
And it’s unlikely to happen anywhere else. In the church, we seek “eyes to see” the real gifts in each other and call them out. As siblings in Christ, we are always looking for how God is at work through one another, how the “way that leads to Life” is emerging within us. With church, we celebrate what God is doing. As siblings in Christ we “spark love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24) in one another.
Today, notice a particular gift in someone and tell them. Their gift might be introducing people to each other, or it might be playfulness that keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously or it might be interceding in prayer. Whatever the gift, name it and claim Christ shining in their gift.
Today, ask someone to identify a gift in you and tell you. Be brave to name it and claim Christ shining. We need the church, the body of Christ, to see ourselves for who we truly are: dwelling places of Christ.
*attributed to Macrina Wiederkehr, A Grateful Heart, ed M. J. Ryan
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Kenneth Schenk, study notes on Hebrews 10:24-25 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 447 NT.
