Mentoring Minutes

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,” (Hebrews 10:24 NIV)

Encouragement can come in many forms…as any parent, teacher or coach will tell you. Some are gentle reminders, some are a little more firm and still others may actually sting a bit. The point is that we all need encouragement and just as The Lord encourages us in different ways we are called to graciously and discerningly do the same for others…and be willing to accept when they “spur us on.” 

We’re going to look at another one of those slightly more difficult “one anothers” today. In Hebrews 10:24 the writer under the power of The Holy Spirit tells us to “…Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

The word “spur” here in some translations is “encourage” (which we’ve heard over and over again and is very “encouraging”) but it is more often interpreted to: “stir up”, “incite” or “provoke.” These latter interpretations give a little more kick (pun intended) as we all know from cowboy movies that a spur is a bit more than just an light, soft encouragement.

The Greek word here implies more than just encourage as it carries with it the force of those latter words to act in such a way that it causes us to move in the way that we should. “Spur” or “provoke” to right action may very well be the best interpretation and we need to be willing to both give the extra push as well as receive it when we need it.

The context of this verse was that the writer was encouraging the Hebrew believers (and us today) to stand strong in our faith and it would take some extra pushes and provocations toward love and good deeds to remind us of and help us be solid in our walk of faith.

We need each other and we need to love “one another” in all the ways that we’ve been exploring and studying in these commands of Scripture that grow us as disciples and together as His Church. So don’t be afraid when someone gives you the extra “spur” and remember it must always be done in love to keep you/me/us strong in our belief and walk in Christ. Also, don’t be afraid to graciously, and as needed, firmly “spur” others on to strengthen their faith walk.

Do you have someone that “spurs” you in your walk in Christ? Are you “spurring” others along? We need this so that we will continue in love and good deeds to one another and build up the fellowship of loving believers that is His Church!

Much like the horse who at times just needs a word, at other times needs a slight pat and yet there are times when what is needed is the spur in the side to prompt them to move. And just like the horse, there are times when I don’t respond to the gentle word or slight pat and need the spur and just like the horse, I don’t always like to be “spurred on” but God’s Word tells us we need to do so.

I need to be willing to properly receive it when needed by The Lord and by others and be willing to gently but firmly apply it when others need to be “spurred on.”   

Food for Thought…In what ways have others encouraged you and it made a positive difference in your life? What about the times you spurned the gentle encouragement but someone loved you enough to spur you on and it made all the difference? Are you willing, as needed, to graciously apply the “spurs” in order to truly instill courage in another? God has called us to do so. May we do so when it is called for with wisdom, grace, mercy and love.

Love in Action…

1. Spend time with God and in His Word and prayer every day…begin with the Scriptures in this episode.
2. Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
3. Can you remember a parent, teacher or coach who spurred you on and it made a huge difference in your life?
4. Spend time specifically seeking The Lord and His wisdom whenever there is a need for you to spur someone on in love.  

Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, when I see a horse getting spurred I don’t think of it as loving…and yet You tell us in Your Word to “spur one another on” to good deeds. I realize in my selfish flesh that I need this and I need to lovingly spur others on. May I do so in Your Love and for Your Kingdom and Glory! In Christ’s Name. Amen.

“But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”  (Hebrews 3:13)

Love and Lordship in Focus…Encouragement literally means to infuse with courage or put courage into. We all need encouragement and one of the best ways to know that you’ll receive is to be one that gives it at every opportunity.

As we continue with the “one another” commands we find several in the book of Hebrews. Most Biblical scholars will agree that this is, along with Romans, one of the two deepest theological books in all the Bible. Hebrews gives us a powerful understanding of Christ as the complete fulfillment of the Old Covenant in the New Covenant sealed by His blood and sacrificial death for us (all who will believe).

There are differing opinions on who penned Hebrews under the guidance of the Holy Spirit…some say Paul, some Barnabas and there are a few others that have been discussed. The beauty is that it is The Holy Spirit who is the ultimate Author of all of Scripture and therefore, Hebrews, and in the midst of this profound letter to Jewish believers to help them understand Christ and the connections and fulfillment of God’s Old Covenant in The New we find more good “one another” commands.

The first in this book is found in Hebrews 3:13 and is another repeat (so it must be important and needed), “Encourage one another daily…” Here the writer is prompted by The Spirit to not just tell us to “encourage one another” but to do it ongoing… “daily!” The Greek word here actually includes admonishing and exhorting which we’ve discussed in previous posts, and sometimes are not always a pleasant but are still needed to strengthen our walk in The Lord together.

You know why the writer of Hebrews in The Holy Spirit tells us to encourage daily? So that we will not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. That’s the world we live in but we don’t have to give into it or let it harden our hearts. That’s why we encourage one another.

Do you need encouragement often? I do and I thank The Lord for those who encourage me. Do you receive encouragement? I do and I’m so blessed by it.

Now here’s the real kicker…are you being obedient, regardless of whether you’re being encouraged or not, to encourage those in your sphere of influence…daily?

I’ve found that even when I may not receive encouragement on a given day, if I choose to encourage others then that in itself brings me encouragement. Proverbs 11:25 states, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

One of my best friends in all the world is Greg Horn who hosts HOPE is Here that I share daily. The previous verse is one of his favorites to pray and to bless others with and he has prayed it over me and blessed me many times! I pray daily that He is refreshed, blessed and prospers because he is a generous man.

Another one is another best friend who voluntarily helps me with the Love and Lordship ministry. Jeff Hancock is such an encourager and blesses me regularly. I pray The Lord will bless and prosper Him as well.

Remember to encourage literally means to infuse or fill with courage and we all need that and have it in Christ as we walk through this broken and hurting world.

Who will you encourage today? I pray you will step out and do so even if others don’t encourage you. God will!   

Food for Thought…When has someone encouraged you and it lifted you up beyond your circumstance(s) or problem(s) and completely changed the outcome for the better for you? When have you done the same for others? Make it not just a point but a lifestyle to be an encourager…and to accept encouragement when it comes your way.

Action Steps…

1. Spend time with God and in His Word and prayer every day…begin with the Scriptures in this episode.
2. Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
3. Who is someone in your life that has consistently encouraged you…been a Barnabas (son of encouragement) to you? How can you encourage them in return?
4. What can/will you do to begin to make encouragement of others a habit in your life?  

Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, it is clear in Your Word that we need to instill courage in each other as believers. This is literally what encouragement means and we ask that we would be obedient to infuse the courage of Christ in others by our words and actions of love toward them! In Christ’s Name. Amen.

“Therefore… build one another up, just as you also are doing.”

 (1 Thessalonians 5:11b)

Love and Lordship in Focus…We need each other! This is God’s design not just for us as individuals but for us as disciples and believers united together as Christ’s Church. Everything stated in God’s Word needs to be tested to see if it is applicable for you as an individual person or to us together as a community of believers, i.e., The Church…or to both, which is often the case.

If we apply things only to ourselves then even good things can turn selfish. If we apply them to the whole or The Body…all of us together, we may very well miss the application for our personal lives. We need both and God’s Word gives us both so we can grow as individual people and disciples without failing to grow together as The Bride and Family of Christ…His Church!

This is why we are back-tracking a bit to pick up where we ended last week in this “one another” series to talk about how and why we are to “build up one another.”

Paul continues in the same verse as our last “one another,” 1 Thessalonians 5:11, after instructing believers to encourage each other he adds, “…Build each other up…” This is ultimately what encouragement is for, remember, to literally infuse or inject courage into another. He also practices what he’s preaching as he encourages and builds them up by closing this verse stating…”as you are also doing.” He was excited that they were already doing this and wanted to help them continue in this kind of love!

This “one another” is based on the concept of actually building as in constructing a house or other structure. It takes planning, time, effort and patience to build a house properly and the same is true when we build each other up in The Lord.

We are to take the time to help construct and build each other up in The Holy Spirit to form a spiritual “house” in one another and together as The Household of Christ, The Church. We are to help one another build on a solid foundation which is Christ and the apostle’s teaching and doctrine (Ephesians 2:19-22) and also to “build up one another” or help to mature in Christ.

The only way we can do this is speaking His Truth in Love to one another. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

What do your words and actions toward others accomplish? Do they build up on a solid foundation and help to mature…or do they build on a sandy foundation and/or tear down.

We need each other and we are called and commanded to bless, encourage and build up one another in our faith so that each of us is stronger in Christ and together His Church is strengthened to carry His message to those who are lost.  

Food for Thought…What does it look like for you to be comforted, encouraged or built up? How do you comfort, encourage or build others up? Find the strength to do so in God’s Word through Christ and The Holy Spirit and allow others to share with and encourage you as well.

Love in Action…

1. Spend time with God and in His Word and prayer every day…begin with the Scriptures in this episode.
2. Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
3. Recall a time when you were struggling and someone came alongside you and built you up. What did it mean to you?
4. How can you do the same for someone else to “build them up” individually and/or as a part of Christ’s House…His Church?  

Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, one of the best ways to love others is to build them up…in Your Word, living in Christ and written in The Bible. Help me to know Christ and The Bible so I can build others up in this way for Your Glory! In Christ’s Name. Amen.