God uses others in our stories of salvation and utilizes relationships in our processes of sanctification. We are gifts to one another to grow closer to Jesus.
Look at how the following passage pivots from how the gospel changes us to our dependence on each other for further transformation.
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— 20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:19-25
In this passage of Scripture, the author communicates the boldness that accompanies our lives due to the sacrifice of Jesus (Heb. 10:19). When Christ died, the dividing wall that our sin created was replaced with a new and living way (Heb. 10:20). Jesus serves as our high priest in that His sacrifice made a way for us (Heb. 10:21).
Even our sins cannot keep us from Him. We can “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22). This description does not sound like we have to tiptoe into God’s presence, unaware of how He will receive us. We can come close. He wants us to draw near.
And we don’t come unsure of His heart for us; we can come in an unwavering assurance because our faith in Him has cleansed us. This hope is unshakeable, but it is also one that we need to continue to hold on to without wavering (Heb. 10:23).
With all that personal description of how Jesus changed us and how we must hold on to that hope, one would assume the next instruction would be to figure out how to keep ourselves in line, but God’s Word provides us with something completely different. The instruction isn’t to consider how to show love and perform good works; God expects us to consider how to provoke one another to show love and perform good works (Heb. 10:24).
While I am supposed to take responsibility for my spiritual growth, so are others around me.
And while I must focus on my development, part of how I grow concerns myself with how others grow.
The “considering how” implies that one strategy will work for everyone. Some need gentle encouragement, and others need bold confrontations to get going. We don’t just need to know the Word; we need to know the people we share the Word with through our deepening relationships.
How can we do that with such busy schedules? We don’t neglect to gather together (Heb. 10:25). Plenty of people allow lesser commitments to push out gathering times with other believers, but growing people don’t.
Make sure you stay connected to God’s people so that we can encourage each other until the day when Christ returns.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
