Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . —Hebrews 10:24-25
We are all capable of being spiritually lazy saints. We want to stay off the rough roads of life, and our primary objective is to secure a peaceful retreat from the world. The ideas put forth in these verses from Hebrews 10 are those of stirring up one another and of keeping ourselves together. Both of these require initiative— our willingness to take the first step toward Christ-realization, not the initiative toward self-realization. To live a distant, withdrawn, and secluded life is diametrically opposed to spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.
The true test of our spirituality occurs when we come up against injustice, degradation, ingratitude, and turmoil, all of which have the tendency to make us spiritually lazy. While being tested, we want to use prayer and Bible reading for the purpose of finding a quiet retreat. We use God only for the sake of getting peace and joy. We seek only our enjoyment of Jesus Christ, not a true realization of Him. This is the first step in the wrong direction. All these things we are seeking are simply effects, and yet we try to make them causes.
“Yes, I think it is right,” Peter said, “. . . to stir you up by reminding you . . .” (2 Peter 1:13). It is a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by someone being used of God to stir us up— someone who is full of spiritual activity. Simple active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work can actually be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The real danger in spiritual laziness is that we do not want to be stirred up— all we want to hear about is a spiritual retirement from the world. Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of retirement— He says, “Go and tell My brethren . . .” (Matthew 28:10).
Journal DJR
Oswald says “It is a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by someone being used of God to stir us up—” I agree and in our “polite society” the level of stirring up that seems to be alluded to here… is pretty rare. The Stirred usually dont like the stirring and tell the Stirrer to stop meddling. And the potential Stirrer, by lack of practice, feels awkward and afraid of offending. That’s the status quo that we find ourselves in. And it is my own experience, on both ends. But you included it in the Bible that we have for a reason. So how do we go about stirring in the Spirt … rather than doing our own stirring and offending folks.
You just answered your own question. When you stay connected and my Spirit is flowing thru you, you wont have to worry. The stirring will be the right thing. Some may still be offended. Like they were with me. You’ll just have to get used to that part. So your job is to stay connected. Stay up here on my balcony and see thru my eyes. Then just do like I did and John recorded it in 5:19 “only did what I saw the Father doing…” You really can live this way. It is not beyond your capabilities. Stay connected and stay expectant, Then when you see what I see and see what I would do, Just Do It. It’s the best way to live.
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