“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Blueberries

I bought two blueberry bushes yesterday. The reason I bought two instead of one, like I planned, was the directions on the side of the pot recommended getting two in order for the plants to cross-pollinate and produce more berries. In fact, it was recommended that two different varieties would be best in order to have blueberries for a longer duration because they bud at different times. Now one alone will still produce berries, but two will produce more than two would separately.

This got me to thinking about the Body of Christ and God’s command to not forsake meeting together. It has been difficult obeying this “assembling of ourselves together” lately. We need to get more creative. We may not be able to come together in big groups, but we can still stir up love and exhort one another. How, you ask?  Here is a small list of things that I can think of:

  • Write a letter and mail it to someone you can’t be with right now. Include a recipe, or a picture, or a drawing your child made. Write words of encouragement and love and then encourage them to write a letter too and maybe they can pass that recipe or artwork along to the next person.
  • Sidewalk art or painted rocks with encouraging words that you can leave for you neighbors to see as they take walks.
  • Telephone a friend or family member and see what they might need and get that item to them.
  • Group text prayer requests
  • A chain dinner for someone who has not been able to celebrate a special birthday or event. Someone can make the main dish, the next the sides, the next a dessert and one person can deliver the whole meal.

As we work together, we can produce a bigger “crop of berries” and boy, what a “crop” we will produce when we can finally assemble ourselves together once more!

Heavenly Father, we long for the day when we can again assemble ourselves together. As we wait, please help us to find ways to stir up love and good works, and exhort one another in the meantime. Jesus is coming soon! May He find faith on the earth as we obey in the everyday little things. In Jesus’ name, amen.