Why It is Necessary for Believers to Be Together
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 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. Hebrews 10:24-25
Believers in Christ need each other. God has made it that way. He has given us things we are to do for each other. In scripture they are usually listed as “one another” commands. Three are found in this text. 1) Consider one another; 2) motivate one another and 3) encourage one another.
To consider means to, “fix one’s eyes or mind upon.” As Christians we are to pay close attention to our brothers and sisters in Christ and know how they are doing in life and in their walk with the Lord.
To spur one another on means we are to motivate one another toward love and good deeds. We know how best to do that with those we have paid close attention to. The world has many ways to motivate us to evil. We need to motivate each other to good.
Then, we are to encourage one another...to come along side and provide comfort when needed and a gentle nudge to stay on course when needed – to be a true friend!
In the midst of these three one another responsibilities the Holy Spirit says, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” In order to pay attention to one another we must be together. In order to motivate one another we must be together. In order to encourage one another, we must be together!
Facebook, email, texts can be part of this but they are insufficient. We need personal contact. We need to touch; to see facial expressions, hear voices and laughter, and experience personal interaction. We can only do this when we are together in the same place. Clearly, a primary time to assemble and be together is the Sunday worship service.
The New Testament shows that the early Christians enjoyed a fellowship in Christ that drew them together to worship and the primary time was the Lord’s Day, Sunday, the day of Christ’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 16:2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10). Our fellowship in Christ should draw us together in the same way.
Certainly our need to be together includes more than Sunday morning. But it is incomplete without it and we are disobedient when we neglect it.
Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ by faithfully and joyfully participating with them in corporate worship.
“Encourage one another and build each other up...” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Pastor Dan