Do A Little Spurring

It’s the last football game of the season. The fourth quarter. The score is tied. A timeout is called. All eyes turn to the cheerleaders lined up with pom-poms flying. Smiles spread across their faces, and, with a deep breath, they shout, “Ready and…”

Knowing what comes next, we rise to our feet.

“We have spirit, yes we do! We have spirit, how ’bout YOU?”

Suddenly, the crowd comes alive. The cheers grow louder and louder. Like a swarm of bees, we unite our voices and erupt with deafening cheers across the stadium.

You can see it and feel the excitement, can’t you?

This is similar to the picture the writer of Hebrews paints when he says, “Consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Now, we may not want to picture someone like Paul wearing a cheerleader’s sweater, but these words carry the kind of enthusiasm that could rally anyone.

The previous verses call us to hold fast to our faith and hope. Now, our attention turns outward. We are called to cheer others on—to urge them to love. Faith, hope, and love: the triune graces of the Christian life.

I love the word spur. It sounds a little dangerous, doesn’t it? But before any spurring takes place, we are first told to “consider.” Consider the motive. Consider the method. Each scenario different.

One resource defines spur as “the endeavor to excite one another.” It isn’t kicking folks around; it is meant to stir up good and encourage. Like the cheerleaders rallying a crowd, may we inspire one another with excitement—to love God, love others, and (we’re not done yet!) live lives marked by beautiful behavior.

And imagine this: What would your life look like if the person who came alongside, encouraging you during a difficult season—had chosen to remain silent?

SPUR on folks!

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds” – Hebrews 10:24)