Godly Irritants
The author of Hebrews writes in Heb. 10:24, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” This is a profound passage with a significant message—one of the essential components of our weekly collective worship.
The Aim of Our Gatherings
Our worship services collectively aim to stimulate one another to Christ’s likeness through our Sunday morning fellowship, worship, and home groups. The end goal of all we do is to be aimed at what God is saying in Hebrews 10:24, which is to stimulate each other to godliness.
The word “stimulate,” as the NASB translation puts it, is a unique word that means “to spur” or “to irritate.” In this present context, this word has a positive meaning, but in other places, this same word might be used as a negative.
For example, as parents, we're told by God not to “irritate” or “exasperate” our children. But God uses this word in Hebrews 10:24 as a helpful action. So, what's being stated is that the churches—God’s people—are to be irritators. Yes, irritators! We're to be people who stimulate (or irritate) one another to love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:25, which says, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some,” is often quoted to promote church attendance. But if we leave out verse 24 and don’t take 24 and 25 together, the force of this passage is lost.
The reason we don’t forsake meeting together is so that we can irritate one another to be more like Christ. Could you imagine how God would mature us if we saw our roles as godly irritants?
The word “stimulate,” as the NASB translation puts it, is a unique word that means “to spur” or “to irritate.” In this present context, this word has a positive meaning, but in other places, this same word might be used as a negative.
For example, as parents, we're told by God not to “irritate” or “exasperate” our children. But God uses this word in Hebrews 10:24 as a helpful action. So, what's being stated is that the churches—God’s people—are to be irritators. Yes, irritators! We're to be people who stimulate (or irritate) one another to love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:25, which says, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some,” is often quoted to promote church attendance. But if we leave out verse 24 and don’t take 24 and 25 together, the force of this passage is lost.
The reason we don’t forsake meeting together is so that we can irritate one another to be more like Christ. Could you imagine how God would mature us if we saw our roles as godly irritants?
A Call to Care
This is a real call to be our brother’s keeper, to look out for one another, address sin, be a positive influence on one another, and edify each other with timely and grace-filled words that build up rather than tear down. We're to exhort one another with Scripture and remain humble even during difficult times when we need to rebuke—and receive rebuke. This is what it means to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
However, this call can only happen if we are faithfully living in fellowship together. What can be more important than our spiritual growth? The answer to this is simple. Since Christ gave His precious life for us, we must take our spiritual growth serious.
This is what Peter states in 1:18-19:
However, this call can only happen if we are faithfully living in fellowship together. What can be more important than our spiritual growth? The answer to this is simple. Since Christ gave His precious life for us, we must take our spiritual growth serious.
This is what Peter states in 1:18-19:
“knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood.” - 1 Peter 1:18-19 NASB
Since we have been bought with the precious blood of Christ, shouldn’t this truth motivate us to take our salvation seriously (Eph. 4:1)? One commentator states, “The high cost of salvation—the beloved Son’s precious blood—calls for believers to live in reverent fear before God. Holy living is motivated by a God-fearing faith which does not take lightly what was purchased at so great a cost.”
Conclusion
The author of Hebrews is encouraging us to take our walk with Christ seriously by stimulating one another to love and good deeds. May we all see ourselves as godly irritants.
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