23 Let’s hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promises is reliable.
24 And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. 25 Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.
Reflection
How’s your “spark” doing? Times have been really tough for all of us, and we can get worn down to the point where we believe all the good things we do each day don’t really matter. Discouragement makes us lose our spark! Following Jesus every day is challenging. Jesus calls us to grow spiritually by worshiping and working together so we keep our spark. When we don’t, our spark begins to flicker. When we stop going to church and gathering with our family in Christ, we drift away and our spark may go out.
Jesus talked about these tough times, and Jesus encouraged us by saying, “I’ve said these things to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you will have distress. But be encouraged. I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)
Our faith is from God and Jesus is the source of our salvation. Be encouraged! Jesus has conquered sin and death. He has sent the Holy Spirit to be the source of our spark. The Spirit within us is an inexhaustible flame that re-energizes us and re-kindles our hope and our flickering spark. It’s the work of the Spirit that sparks us to love and do good deeds. And this happens best when we are gathered together as a community of faith, to worship God, hear the word and pray together.
Regardless of what state your own “spark” is in, gathering together encourages us, so we can then encourage others. In good and tough times, God calls each of us to be encouragers to the body of Christ. When we’re together in worship or ministry, we give and receive encouragement. We build each other up in the Spirit with kind words, encouragement and praying for each other.
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering & Prayer
So how’s your spark doing? Are you an encourager that sparks others to love and good deeds, or is your spark flickering? If your spark is flickering, come to church and be encouraged. Today, let’s be intentional about encouraging others. Who do you know who needs to hear kind words, who needs to be encouraged, who needs to be prayed over? Jesus says, “Be encouraged. I have conquered the world.”
Prayer: Holy and Loving God, pour out your Spirit upon your children, your church, that we may be like Jesus and encourage each other to spark love and good deeds for your glory. Amen.
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