"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25)
“And
let us consider one another.” – Brethren should always be
thoughtful and considerate of one another.
We are
all but men, men and women of like passions and infirmities. We should consider
one another’s weaknesses and make allowance for them. We should consider one
another’s outward state and condition in the world, and try to understand one
another’s needs, and help each other.
As
saints, as believers, as men and women in Christ, we are all partakers of the
same grace, loved with the same love, conceived and brought forth in the womb
of God’s eternal electing grace, interested in the same covenant, redeemed by
the same blood, and have the same graces and privileges. -- We all have the
same and an equal right to heaven and eternal glory in Christ. – We all have
one Spirit and the same Spirit, the same grace of faith, the same
righteousness, the same fountain to wash in, the same fullness to partake of,
the same throne of grace to go to, and the same inheritance to enjoy.
As
church members, members of the same family and the same body, may God grant us
grace always to consider one another in this light. Let us ever endeavor to
provoke one another to brotherly love, to stir it up because it is always apt
to wax cold. This is our Lord’s new commandment, the bond of perfection, the
evidence of regeneration, that which makes the saints’ communion comfortable
and delightful. Without this brotherly love, a profession of faith is empty,
meaningless, and vain.
Let us provoke one another
to good works, too. Good works are works of grace, kindness, forgiveness,
patience, forbearance, and faithfulness. Good works are never set before us in
the New Testament as works of self-righteousness and severity, but as works of
mercy, love, kindness, forbearance, and forgiveness. They are not works by
which we make ourselves righteous (or more righteous), but works arising from
righteousness. How can we fulfill this admonition?
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Believers are people who find great pleasure and satisfaction in daily worship: in prayer, praise, and meditation. Daily, private, personal worship is a characteristic of every believer’s life. With the rising of the morning sun his heart is lifted up to God. Every morning he directs his prayer to the throne of grace and looks to his Lord with a heart of faith. Every evening he gives thanks to God and lays his head upon his pillow in the sweet rest of faith.
That is the way to begin and end every day! Blessed is the man or woman who worships God in private. Let all who know and trust the living God worship him daily. Let all who follow Christ in the path of faith and obedience follow him also to the solitary place of private prayer. I would do everything within my power to promote and encourage private worship among the saints of God. Let every priest of God offer the daily sacrifices of prayer and praise to the Lord. But there is something even more important than private worship.
Does that last statement surprise you? I know that most people who are genuinely concerned for the glory of God and the worship of God rank personal, private worship above all things in the life of faith. But I am convinced that public worship, if it is true worship, is even more important than private worship.
An Example
David, the sweet singer of Israel, gave the highest possible regard to the matter of public worship. Without neglecting private worship, he said, “As for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple” (Ps. 5:7).
He could not force others to worship God, and would not if he could. “But,” he says, “as for me, I will come into thy house.” That is to say, I will come into the place of public worship in the assembly of God's saints to worship the Lord my God.
When he came into the place of worship with the saints of God, David was determined truly to worship the Lord. He says, “In thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.” David was resolved in his heart, at every appointed time, to come with God's saints into the place of public worship, so that he might worship God in heaven, in the temple of his holiness.