Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25
Anthony shares some thoughts on this passage…
Over the past couple of years, it has been a great temptation for the church to forsake meeting with one another. After lockdowns lifted, many people had become accustomed to the ease and convenience that came with online church. After all, we could wear pyjamas, save time in travel, and avoid that person that rubs us up the wrong way at church. But this is not God’s desire or plan for us. He created us to live in community. Firstly, in community with Himself, then with those around us. There are many reasons why God would have us regularly meeting together as believers.
Firstly, as the rest of this verse mentions, we are to encourage each other when we meet. God has made no promises about this life being easy, and encouragement is a powerful way for us to lift each other up and remind each other of all the good gifts God has given us in our own lives. Encouragement coming from someone else is often far more powerful than when we merely try and pull ourselves up.
The Bible also says we are all members of the body of Christ, each with unique gifts which complement each other. God hasn’t designed any one of us to have it all ourselves. God has blessed each of us with our own unique gifts to be used to serve one another. We can’t serve or be served if we remain in isolation, and we also miss the blessing of others’ gifts. Not only this but proverbs also tells us that as iron sharpens iron, so too does one person sharpen another. Also, being around people of different viewpoints and stages of life actually sharpen us as a person.
And finally, Jesus Himself said, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” God loves when His followers are unified, and there is great power when unified believers pray. We are the ones who miss out if we choose not to gather.
