Listen: The Body of Christ

"You have people who've pushed you and pulled you, encouraged you and challenged you. And spoke into your life. And it's the fulfillment of Hebrews 10.24-25. The writer says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…” I am the fulfillment of people who have spurred me on toward love and good deeds. I am the result of people being faithful to their God through providential relationships … either speaking to me in the name of God or showing me how to live in the name of God. I'm the result of that. I'm Hebrews 10:24 come alive, because of the lives of the people around me. But he doesn't stop there. He says, “Let's 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.” The other side of this is that I can't be influenced by people if I'm not with them. When I give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, I miss out on those opportunities for God to speak into my life. We have strength in the community that we don't have individually. We have opportunities to hear God in a community that we don't have individually. And if you aren't surrounding yourself with Jesus' followers, then you may be preventing a significant way in which God speaks to you. And it is nearly as hypocritical as a Jesus follower who doesn't read the word of God."