01-08-2007, 11:02 AM
All The More So!
Due to the “critical times hard to deal with†that we are living through today this scripture found at Hebrews 10:24, 25 should be of vital importance to us today!
24 And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, 25 not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near.
Perhaps digging into this Scripture, as if digging for treasure, will bring a renewed and faith-strengthening insight into how each and everyone of us needs to apply this counsel to his or herself on a personal level.
First of all, let us take what it says in verse 24 … “let us CONSIDER one another†… who exactly does this expression apply to and does it have an meaning for us as individual Christians?
The Greek word used for ‘consider’ has this meaning:
Observe fully: behold, consider, discover, perceive … the beginning part of the word ‘kata’ frequently denotes intensity to the word being used
To exercise the mind, (observe), i.e.:- (fig.) to comprehend, heed:- consider, perceive, think, understand
Now if we take a moment to stop and consider the words above, we can see how DEEP our relationship needs to be with one another. It is NOT just a SURFACE relationship that we want to have, a knowing or ‘considering’ of each other just to say hello and shoot the breeze so to speak.
No, but rather to LOOK BENEATH THE SURFACE (observe fully) to SEEK to perceive or discover HOW and in WHAT WAYS we can ‘incite to love and fine works’!
Let’s take a peek into the dictionary to add to the flavor of some of the above expressions.
Let us take OBSERVE first …
To watch ATTENTIVELY; keep under surveillance; to make CAREFUL observation of, to say or comment; remark; to take notice
So in this definition we can see that ‘observing’ or ‘considering one another’ has to involve more than just our eyes. For to take the time to look beyond surface of a person involves much more does it not? Doesn’t it require having a MOTIVATING FACTOR? And what would our motivating be for ‘considering’ our brothers and sister? Wouldn’t it be our Christ-like love for them; to SEE what we can DO to help incite, or as one Bible translation says, ROUSE them to love and fine works?
Also, let’s look at what the definition of DISCOVER is, another word used to give us a richer meaning to ‘consider’ …
To FIND OUT, get knowledge of, or come upon, especially for the first time.
In order to ‘find out’ or ‘get knowledge’ of something what do we need to do? Do we have to as already mentioned have to ‘observe’ that something needs to be found out? So the FIRST STEP into being able to ‘consider another’ is to be AWARE of needing to do it in the first place. Then we have ACT on that awareness.
How can we do this? If we want to know about something don’t we seek to find as much information as we can? Do we not ask questions and wait for the answers?
What is KEY in this ‘considering on another’ has to be our MOTIVE. It should NEVER be just to be nosy or to find out the ‘latest news’. No, but rather it should ALWAYS be with a view to GENUINELY, from the heart, want to help and be a strengthening aid to our spiritual family.
If that is the source of our seeking out this knowledge, to seek ways to rouse up or stimulate our brothers and sisters to show an even greater love for our God and his Son and their spiritual family, and to help them find or recognize various ways they can do even more fine works toward their brothers and sisters and those whom we hope to draw to worship our Great God Jehovah; then the positive results that can be accomplished will bring us and those to whom we are ‘considering’ great joy will they not!
Now a point that we should perhaps consider here with regarding the above admonish is; WHO are the ones that should ‘consider one another to love and fine works’?
Is this just to be done by those who are taking the lead in the congregations? Or is it the responsibility of each and every one of us to do so?
The expression “one another†would seem to indicate that ALL those in the congregation of God would be looking out for the best interest OF EACH OTHER would it not? That we are, and should be, interested in the personal interests of all of our spiritual family.
Now as the verse 25 of Hebrews chapter 10 we see here that we are instructed to meet or come together in WORSHIP of our God. This “gathering of ourselves together†is a way that we can, as the New World Translation puts it, “encourage†one another.
If we once again look up the original Greek word for “encourage†we can find an even wider responsibility on our part.
The word ENCOURAGE has these further meanings …
To call near, i.e. invite, invoke, (by imploration, hortation or consolation):_ beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (tation), entreat, pray
Various other Bible translations instead of using ‘encourage’ use the word exhorting.
If we were to look up the dictionaries meaning for ‘encourage’ what does it say?
To inspire with courage, hope, or resolution; hearten; to help or foster; be favorable toward.
If we look up the word ‘exhort’ we find …
To urge by earnest appeal or argument; advise or recommend strongly.
Is this truly how we want to be with our brothers and sisters? To help them, to uplift their spirits if they are down or depressed or discouraged, to be positive and give them hope of something better to come, and if they need some stronger words, then we give that to them as well.
However, in order to do all the above, do we not have to GET TO KNOW our brothers and sister on a more intimate level? Do we not have to GET TO KNOW their own INDIVIDUAL set of circumstances, and feelings?
Yes, is there, or could there perhaps be MORE to this ‘gathering of our together’ than we may at first realize?
Remember some of the other meanings of that Greek word for ‘encourage’? For instance what about “implore†…
To call upon in humble or urgent entreaty; beseech; entreat; beg for urgently; to make urgent supplication
What about “beseech†…
To entreat earnestly; implore; to beg for earnestly
And “entreat†…
To beseech with great intensity; implore; beg; to make an earnest request of or for; petition
And “pray†…
To address prayers to a deity; say prayers; to make earnest request or entreaty; beg, to ask (someone) earnestly; entreat; to as for by prayers or entreaty
When we read and meditate on all these expressions, what kind of feelings come to your heart and mind? Do they not STIR us? Do they not cause us to feel a CONNECTION, a CLOSENESS, a BOND toward one other? Do they not reach emotions on a higher, a deeper plane than just casual emotions we might feel for a stranger we met for the first time?
Yes, if we were to have such feelings toward another would HAVE to mean we CARE for them, that we LOVE them, and want what is BEST for them, and that we have a DEEP and SPECIAL relationship with them.
These are kind of things that would and should be present when we “COME or GATHER TOGETHER as worshipers of Jehovah God and footstep followers of his Son, Christ Jesus.
While it is true that TO A DEGREE this can be done while all together in a more ‘formal’ way … may it be possible for this Scripture to apply in an even WIDER sense? Just what IS our WORSHIP to involve? Exactly what is worship?
According to the Greek word the meaning of the word ‘gathering together’ denotes worshiping together …
One dictionary’s definition of “worship†is as follows …
The adoration, homage, or veneration given to a deity or to something regarded as sacred; the rites, ceremonial forms, prayers, etc., such adoration requires or assumes; excessive or ardent devotion or admiration; to perform acts or have sentiments of worship.
What are some ‘acts’ that we need to ‘perform’ as part of our worship? Is it just attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall? Or could there be something MORE to our ‘gathering together’ as mentioned here?
Well, let’s just look at one Scripture for instance that defines our WORSHIP. Notice what it says at James 1:27 …
27 The form of WORSHIP that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to LOOK AFTER ORPHANS and WIDOWS in their tribulation, and to KEEP ONESELF WITHOUT SPOT from the world.
Doesn’t this Scripture, words spoken to us by our heavenly Father, show that our WORHSIP goes BEYOND the doors where we ‘formerly’ meet together in our places of worship ? That part of our WORSHIP TO GOD is to ‘gather together’ to ‘perform acts’ that SHOW that we are CONSIDERING or DISCOVERING or COMING TO KNOW our brothers and sisters and DOING all we can to aid and help them to continue on in the worship of our heavenly Father?
Yes, we need to meet together to encourage one another IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE to give heed to this Bible-based admonition don’t we?
But WHY is it SO IMPORTANT to grasp this fact; to make our worship MORE than just a “form of Godly devotion� (2 Timothy 3:5) Remember what the latter part of verse 25 said …
… ALL THE MORE SO as you behold the day drawing near.
One Scripture that shows us WHY is the very familiar one found at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 …
3 But know this, that in the LAST DAYS CRITICAL times HARD TO DEAL with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having a FORM OF GODLY DEVOTION but proving FALSE to its power; and from these turn away.
ALL of us face the very situations that are described above … and it is BECAUSE OF THIS that we SO need to MEET TOGETHER!!
When we go to our Christian meetings we go to worship together, sing, pray, hear and give talks and meet before and afterward. All good and all necessary, but is it ENOUGH? Can we do ALL we NEED to do in order to fulfill the words of Hebrews 10:24, 25?
Can a person open up their cares, concerns, troubles, and the like at the Kingdom Hall before or after a meeting? For most this isn’t possible or practical as they might only be comfortable to do it in privacy in the relative ‘safety’ or their home or yours perhaps. Yes you can ‘meet together’ so that an exhorting, a beseeching, an entreating etc. can be done on a more personal level.
Perhaps, going shopping or helping with governmental issues surrounding a mates death, or spending times recreationally with an orphan, discussing Bible accounts, even praying together when necessary is ALL part of our WORHSIP to our God and showing ‘the CONSIDERING of one another to love and fine works’.
For KNOWING and SEEING and EXPERIENCING the LIVING, BREATHING LOVE from each other can only cause us to maintain our firm devotion and faithfulness to our heavenly Father as we seek to survive to the end of this wicked old system of things.
For instance, perhaps we find out a brother or sister needs to talk about something that is troubling them. How can we offer comfort?
Kindly and sympathetically and tactfully asking specific questions to determine where the need is. Then, once our brother or sister has the confidence and assurance of our genuineness, LOOK for PRACTICAL WAYS to find SOLUTIONS to their concerns or situations. Yes FOLLOW THROUGH! Don’t leave them hanging after opening up their hearts, don’t judge them for whatever their concerns may be, but SHOW a true CHRIST-LIKE attitude and HELP where you can, and FIND WAYS to help where you may not be able.
Is this not “inciting to love and fine works� Is this not “encouraging one another all the more so�
Times ARE critical and ARE hard to deal with … that is WHY we NEED to … no, MUST … comfort, exhort, beseech, help, pray with and for one another ALL THE MORE SO if we want to be found approved by our God when the DAY comes!
Due to the “critical times hard to deal with†that we are living through today this scripture found at Hebrews 10:24, 25 should be of vital importance to us today!
24 And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, 25 not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near.
Perhaps digging into this Scripture, as if digging for treasure, will bring a renewed and faith-strengthening insight into how each and everyone of us needs to apply this counsel to his or herself on a personal level.
First of all, let us take what it says in verse 24 … “let us CONSIDER one another†… who exactly does this expression apply to and does it have an meaning for us as individual Christians?
The Greek word used for ‘consider’ has this meaning:
Observe fully: behold, consider, discover, perceive … the beginning part of the word ‘kata’ frequently denotes intensity to the word being used
To exercise the mind, (observe), i.e.:- (fig.) to comprehend, heed:- consider, perceive, think, understand
Now if we take a moment to stop and consider the words above, we can see how DEEP our relationship needs to be with one another. It is NOT just a SURFACE relationship that we want to have, a knowing or ‘considering’ of each other just to say hello and shoot the breeze so to speak.
No, but rather to LOOK BENEATH THE SURFACE (observe fully) to SEEK to perceive or discover HOW and in WHAT WAYS we can ‘incite to love and fine works’!
Let’s take a peek into the dictionary to add to the flavor of some of the above expressions.
Let us take OBSERVE first …
To watch ATTENTIVELY; keep under surveillance; to make CAREFUL observation of, to say or comment; remark; to take notice
So in this definition we can see that ‘observing’ or ‘considering one another’ has to involve more than just our eyes. For to take the time to look beyond surface of a person involves much more does it not? Doesn’t it require having a MOTIVATING FACTOR? And what would our motivating be for ‘considering’ our brothers and sister? Wouldn’t it be our Christ-like love for them; to SEE what we can DO to help incite, or as one Bible translation says, ROUSE them to love and fine works?
Also, let’s look at what the definition of DISCOVER is, another word used to give us a richer meaning to ‘consider’ …
To FIND OUT, get knowledge of, or come upon, especially for the first time.
In order to ‘find out’ or ‘get knowledge’ of something what do we need to do? Do we have to as already mentioned have to ‘observe’ that something needs to be found out? So the FIRST STEP into being able to ‘consider another’ is to be AWARE of needing to do it in the first place. Then we have ACT on that awareness.
How can we do this? If we want to know about something don’t we seek to find as much information as we can? Do we not ask questions and wait for the answers?
What is KEY in this ‘considering on another’ has to be our MOTIVE. It should NEVER be just to be nosy or to find out the ‘latest news’. No, but rather it should ALWAYS be with a view to GENUINELY, from the heart, want to help and be a strengthening aid to our spiritual family.
If that is the source of our seeking out this knowledge, to seek ways to rouse up or stimulate our brothers and sisters to show an even greater love for our God and his Son and their spiritual family, and to help them find or recognize various ways they can do even more fine works toward their brothers and sisters and those whom we hope to draw to worship our Great God Jehovah; then the positive results that can be accomplished will bring us and those to whom we are ‘considering’ great joy will they not!
Now a point that we should perhaps consider here with regarding the above admonish is; WHO are the ones that should ‘consider one another to love and fine works’?
Is this just to be done by those who are taking the lead in the congregations? Or is it the responsibility of each and every one of us to do so?
The expression “one another†would seem to indicate that ALL those in the congregation of God would be looking out for the best interest OF EACH OTHER would it not? That we are, and should be, interested in the personal interests of all of our spiritual family.
Now as the verse 25 of Hebrews chapter 10 we see here that we are instructed to meet or come together in WORSHIP of our God. This “gathering of ourselves together†is a way that we can, as the New World Translation puts it, “encourage†one another.
If we once again look up the original Greek word for “encourage†we can find an even wider responsibility on our part.
The word ENCOURAGE has these further meanings …
To call near, i.e. invite, invoke, (by imploration, hortation or consolation):_ beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (tation), entreat, pray
Various other Bible translations instead of using ‘encourage’ use the word exhorting.
If we were to look up the dictionaries meaning for ‘encourage’ what does it say?
To inspire with courage, hope, or resolution; hearten; to help or foster; be favorable toward.
If we look up the word ‘exhort’ we find …
To urge by earnest appeal or argument; advise or recommend strongly.
Is this truly how we want to be with our brothers and sisters? To help them, to uplift their spirits if they are down or depressed or discouraged, to be positive and give them hope of something better to come, and if they need some stronger words, then we give that to them as well.
However, in order to do all the above, do we not have to GET TO KNOW our brothers and sister on a more intimate level? Do we not have to GET TO KNOW their own INDIVIDUAL set of circumstances, and feelings?
Yes, is there, or could there perhaps be MORE to this ‘gathering of our together’ than we may at first realize?
Remember some of the other meanings of that Greek word for ‘encourage’? For instance what about “implore†…
To call upon in humble or urgent entreaty; beseech; entreat; beg for urgently; to make urgent supplication
What about “beseech†…
To entreat earnestly; implore; to beg for earnestly
And “entreat†…
To beseech with great intensity; implore; beg; to make an earnest request of or for; petition
And “pray†…
To address prayers to a deity; say prayers; to make earnest request or entreaty; beg, to ask (someone) earnestly; entreat; to as for by prayers or entreaty
When we read and meditate on all these expressions, what kind of feelings come to your heart and mind? Do they not STIR us? Do they not cause us to feel a CONNECTION, a CLOSENESS, a BOND toward one other? Do they not reach emotions on a higher, a deeper plane than just casual emotions we might feel for a stranger we met for the first time?
Yes, if we were to have such feelings toward another would HAVE to mean we CARE for them, that we LOVE them, and want what is BEST for them, and that we have a DEEP and SPECIAL relationship with them.
These are kind of things that would and should be present when we “COME or GATHER TOGETHER as worshipers of Jehovah God and footstep followers of his Son, Christ Jesus.
While it is true that TO A DEGREE this can be done while all together in a more ‘formal’ way … may it be possible for this Scripture to apply in an even WIDER sense? Just what IS our WORSHIP to involve? Exactly what is worship?
According to the Greek word the meaning of the word ‘gathering together’ denotes worshiping together …
One dictionary’s definition of “worship†is as follows …
The adoration, homage, or veneration given to a deity or to something regarded as sacred; the rites, ceremonial forms, prayers, etc., such adoration requires or assumes; excessive or ardent devotion or admiration; to perform acts or have sentiments of worship.
What are some ‘acts’ that we need to ‘perform’ as part of our worship? Is it just attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall? Or could there be something MORE to our ‘gathering together’ as mentioned here?
Well, let’s just look at one Scripture for instance that defines our WORSHIP. Notice what it says at James 1:27 …
27 The form of WORSHIP that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to LOOK AFTER ORPHANS and WIDOWS in their tribulation, and to KEEP ONESELF WITHOUT SPOT from the world.
Doesn’t this Scripture, words spoken to us by our heavenly Father, show that our WORHSIP goes BEYOND the doors where we ‘formerly’ meet together in our places of worship ? That part of our WORSHIP TO GOD is to ‘gather together’ to ‘perform acts’ that SHOW that we are CONSIDERING or DISCOVERING or COMING TO KNOW our brothers and sisters and DOING all we can to aid and help them to continue on in the worship of our heavenly Father?
Yes, we need to meet together to encourage one another IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE to give heed to this Bible-based admonition don’t we?
But WHY is it SO IMPORTANT to grasp this fact; to make our worship MORE than just a “form of Godly devotion� (2 Timothy 3:5) Remember what the latter part of verse 25 said …
… ALL THE MORE SO as you behold the day drawing near.
One Scripture that shows us WHY is the very familiar one found at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 …
3 But know this, that in the LAST DAYS CRITICAL times HARD TO DEAL with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having a FORM OF GODLY DEVOTION but proving FALSE to its power; and from these turn away.
ALL of us face the very situations that are described above … and it is BECAUSE OF THIS that we SO need to MEET TOGETHER!!
When we go to our Christian meetings we go to worship together, sing, pray, hear and give talks and meet before and afterward. All good and all necessary, but is it ENOUGH? Can we do ALL we NEED to do in order to fulfill the words of Hebrews 10:24, 25?
Can a person open up their cares, concerns, troubles, and the like at the Kingdom Hall before or after a meeting? For most this isn’t possible or practical as they might only be comfortable to do it in privacy in the relative ‘safety’ or their home or yours perhaps. Yes you can ‘meet together’ so that an exhorting, a beseeching, an entreating etc. can be done on a more personal level.
Perhaps, going shopping or helping with governmental issues surrounding a mates death, or spending times recreationally with an orphan, discussing Bible accounts, even praying together when necessary is ALL part of our WORHSIP to our God and showing ‘the CONSIDERING of one another to love and fine works’.
For KNOWING and SEEING and EXPERIENCING the LIVING, BREATHING LOVE from each other can only cause us to maintain our firm devotion and faithfulness to our heavenly Father as we seek to survive to the end of this wicked old system of things.
For instance, perhaps we find out a brother or sister needs to talk about something that is troubling them. How can we offer comfort?
Kindly and sympathetically and tactfully asking specific questions to determine where the need is. Then, once our brother or sister has the confidence and assurance of our genuineness, LOOK for PRACTICAL WAYS to find SOLUTIONS to their concerns or situations. Yes FOLLOW THROUGH! Don’t leave them hanging after opening up their hearts, don’t judge them for whatever their concerns may be, but SHOW a true CHRIST-LIKE attitude and HELP where you can, and FIND WAYS to help where you may not be able.
Is this not “inciting to love and fine works� Is this not “encouraging one another all the more so�
Times ARE critical and ARE hard to deal with … that is WHY we NEED to … no, MUST … comfort, exhort, beseech, help, pray with and for one another ALL THE MORE SO if we want to be found approved by our God when the DAY comes!