«Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer» (Hebrews 10:24, 25, GNT).
FAITHFULNESS IN ATTENDING CHURCH encourages others and stimulates them to love and do good works. In the early days of Christianity, believers gathered together and their worship services were held in homes.
Some in Paul’s day and some others today may have a habit of not congregating. Those who neglect communion with their brethren in meetings of worship and devotion neglect and harm both others and themselves.
The words of exhortation encourage us to stand firm and be faithful. As difficulties increase, mutual exhortation and encouragement provide an even greater benefit, the closer we are to the final day, the more we need to «gather» together.
Being considerate of each other stimulates and strengthens us. The exhortation and example of our brethren stirs us, like spurs stimulate a horse or like a glass of cold water thrown in our face awakens us and makes us understand the times in which we live.
«So now we are given warning of Christ’s second coming and of the destruction to fall upon the world. “Those who heed the warning will be saved» (The Desire of Ages, p. 634).
Twice in the New Testament the expression «to meet» appears, and both times it is used by Paul. As he wrote to the Hebrews encouraging them to meet together in the church and in 2 Thessalonians 2: l: «We have something to say about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We want to talk to you about that time when we will meet together with him.» By faith we accept grace, enter into communion with God, and live a faithful and missionary life, motivated by hope and love.
Last year when the pandemic deepened the crisis and pain, in one place in South America, a group of brethren who were considerate of their neighbors went out to hand out food baskets. A family benefited from that and, with tears in their eyes, thanked them because they had run out of food to eat. In return, they handed over two envelopes containing the tithe and the offerings they had set aside. They could have used that money for food since they needed to eat, but they put God first.
Even in the most difficult circumstances they were considerate with one another and exhorted each other with love, good deeds, and faithfulness.
It is because of faith that we approach, it is with hope that we stand firm, and it is because of love that we are considerate with one another.