Are You On Spiritual Cruise Control?

"And 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." Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV

What a great scripture to discuss the importance of community! A thorough reading of this passage highlighted one word for me—that word is “spur.” That doesn’t sound like a comfortable action to me! The very definition of “spur” describes a sharp object that is nudged into the side of a horse to encourage it to go faster. But if we were honest with each other, we’d agree that sometime we need a nudge or two to be encouraged to go faster and further with Christ.

As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to go faster and further but if we are honest, we don’t always want to. It’s too easy to become complacent and settle (even unknowingly) into a sort of spiritual cruise control. One way we can go faster is by surrounding ourselves with others who will love us enough to push and tell us hard things that build us up. The truth is, real spiritual growth involves pushing the accelerator at times, and at other times putting on the brakes. Community gives us me feedback on my “driving.” I have always thought it to be wise to have friends who love me BUT love Jesus more.

As the author of Hebrews tells us, we need to continue meeting and encouraging each other “all the more as you see the Day approaching.” That is to say, as the world breaks down around us, we have ever more reason for Christian community to surround us. Let us receive this charge and not take it lightly. Ask God to bless you with people that will spur you on to become more like Him and to help you keep your hand off the cruise control.

Brett Coates, Dir. of Church Relations