Do you remember those crazy kick-me signs. Perhaps you were the bully that put them on other people’s backs unaware. Worse yet, like myself, you may have be the recipient of one of those not-so-gentle reminders. (I’m not bitter or anything)!
The Bibles says this in Hebrews 10:24-25: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Have you ever noticed how much Jesus hangs out with people? As I read through the Gospels, I’ve been struck with the value Jesus places upon significant relationships.
Simply being together.
Oh sure, he needed to get away once in a while like all of us do, but for the most part those were brief times of prayer and rejuvenation with the Father. Even the Son of God found it valuable to ‘steal away’ to a secret place, but those times were brief and served as ‘fuel’ for the journey of relationship.
Don’t we tend to function just the opposite? Heavy on the isolation and light on the fellowship?
Dear ones, Christian community is not forged by osmosis! It doesn’t just happen, but rather, it is harvested. One must tend and nurture relationships for them to be healthy. Before Jesus ever performed any miracles, his first desire was to get a group of guys around him.
Relationships before responsibilities.
People before programs.
Jesus didn’t die for an organization, he laid his life down for his friends and family.
Do you have friends and family…really? Or are you living in isolation? That’s not God’s purpose for you.
So…who are you spurring on to love and good deeds?
Next question is: Who is doing that for you?
We all need a “kick-me” every once and a while!