Let us think of ways to motivate one another
Hebrews 10:24–25 (NLT)
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Break It Down
This isn’t a generic call to be kind or stay connected socially. It is a Spirit-breathed picture of what life in Christ is meant to look like when it is lived together.
“Let us” reminds us that faith is shared, not solo.
“Consider” calls for intentional thought, not accident or convenience.
“Spur one another on” shows that true friendship doesn’t only comfort, it forms.
“Do not neglect meeting together” affirms that presence matters, not as a rule, but as a lifeline.
“Encourage one another” means speaking courage, reminding each other of truth and hope.
Old friendships in the faith often feel like a glove that slips right back on because they were formed through shared prayer, shared obedience, shared hardship, and shared history with God. The comfort comes from trust that has been shaped over time.
God’s Intention
God never designed discipleship to be an individual achievement. From the beginning, His desire has been to form a people, a family, a body, where faith is strengthened through belonging.
These relationships are not meant to replace reliance on God, but to become one of the ways God faithfully cares for His people. Through faithful friendships, God steadies us, corrects us, strengthens us, and keeps us awake to His purposes.
Weave in the Passage
Hebrews was written to believers who were tired, pressured, and tempted to drift. In this moment, Scripture doesn’t simply offer more teaching, it offers relational resilience.
Don’t drift alone.
When gathering fades, encouragement weakens.
When encouragement fades, courage drains.
When faith becomes private, it becomes vulnerable.
Long-standing friendships in Christ are a gift in these moments. Even after seasons apart, when those relationships are renewed, they often reveal that God has been quietly preserving what He Himself formed. These friendships are not only for comfort, but for courage, love, good works, and hope.
Related Scripture
Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) — “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NLT) — “Two people are better off than one… If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) — “Encourage each other and build each other up.”
Galatians 6:2 (NLT) — “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
Application for Today
1. Name your faithful friendships with gratitude. Thank God for them and do not take them for granted.
2. Be intentional. Consider how you might encourage, not just connect.
3. Reconnect with purpose, not guilt. A message, a call, a shared prayer, or a meal can reopen space for grace.
4. Encourage toward love and good works. Ask where God is stirring and how you can support obedience.
5. Do not neglect gathering, in whatever form is possible. Presence is one of God’s quiet gifts.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of faithful friendships in the faith. Thank You for the relationships You have carried through time and distance. Teach me to be intentional and generous in encouragement. Guard me from isolation, and make me a source of courage and strength for others. Use my presence, my words, and my prayers to build others up in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection
Who are the friends God has used to keep you steady over the years?
Is there someone you could reconnect with this week in a meaningful way?
What kind of encouragement do you most need right now?
How might God be inviting you to spur someone on toward love or good works today?