And let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good works,

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,

but encouraging one another,

and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

v25 contains a promise that inherently builds community, a great community-making promise. It causes “one anothers” to happen all over the place - what’s that promise? “the Day drawing near.” The Day in the NT refers to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to save His people, to judge His enemies, to usher in His eternal kingdom, to set up the new heavens and the new earth. Until the Day happens, it is always drawing near. We are closer today to everlasting, full, final, complete salvation than we have ever been before. And tomorrow, we will be closer and closer and closer until one glorious day will be the Day. The trump will sound. The dead in Christ shall rise. We who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet all of them in the air - and so we will always be with the Lord! That Day, may be next week or next century, but in light of eternity, it’s right around the corner!

In other words, the hope of v23 will be realized on that Day. Faith becomes sight on that Day. Now - based on that promise - let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works! He’s right around the corner. Jesus is coming. Eternity is almost here. So let us stir up one another to love and good works. In other words, we should be telling one another, “Love this way, live this way because Christ is almost here!”

He says, “let us consider”. In other words, think about this, plan for this, be intentional about this, think through this. How can we stir up one another to love and good works based on the promise that the Day is coming? There are a 1,000 ways. Consider this brother in this situation and then stir him up! Don’t let him lag away until Jesus comes. Help him. Be helped. Help him grow. Help him put away sin. Help him have an eternal perspective. Help him treasure Christ. Stir him up.

Now that stir up means to incite, agitate, but it’s not in the negative sense. We are not to manipulate or guilt trip or force each other to love and good works, we are to compel, encourage, motivate, excite one another to love and good works.

And what is one of the best means to do so? What is right at hand that provides the atmosphere, environment, and opportunity to do so? That’s where v25 comes in. If you take v25 by itself, you take it to mean if you don’t go to church, you are in sin, you are a bad, bad person. Now, there’s some truth to that. If you have no desire to gather with fellow believers in a local body, something is amiss, sin abounds somewhere because Christ died for those individuals, He means to save them, and He loves them. But when you see the connection with v24, a whole new perspective on v25 takes shape. Do not neglect to meet together, to assemble, to congregate - that clearly refers to the gathering of the local church - Do not neglect to meet together, even though some do, because when you meet together, that is the opportune time and moment to stir up one another to love and good works.