Online Articles
Stimulate
We live in an over stimulated society, whether its TV, radio, computers, gaming, smart phones or tablets… everywhere we go our senses are being bombarded. Technology continues to overload our senses to the point that we now have diseases attributed to this- this is manifested most commonly in our society by anxiety, stress and sleep disorders.
When we feel like the day is dragging and we are unproductive, we voluntarily stimulate ourselves with a boost of caffeine or sugar: coffee, energy drinks, 5 hour energy shot or my personal favorite Mt. Dew! Some will even take stimulating the senses to the next and dangerous level of using nicotine or narcotics to stimulate themselves.
Most nutritionist and doctors would not recommend using coffee and Mt. Dew to give us that boost in your day but our Great Physician Jesus Christ does recommend a daily stimulus. A very important and needed stimulant that is crucial to our spiritual walk is found in Hebrews 10:24 “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds”. That stimulant is you and me! We have an obligation to encourage and drive each other to Godly deeds.
One of the most important aspects of this verse is to understand that the act of “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” is not a suggestion or an afterthought but a command from the living God. God has two expectations for us in this verse - First, we are to encourage each other and two, have a heart that is receptive to be inspired and encouraged to do good deeds. We need to be the encourager and the encouraged.
The word Stimulate is an interesting word. Webster’s definition of Stimulate is to make active or more active: Animate, Arouse, Excite, Provoke, Motivate or Quicken. Synonyms for Stimulate are: amp, brace, energize, fire up, invigorate, jazz up, juice up, jump-start, liven up, pep up, and vitalize. Do any of these words portray a feeling of melancholy or inactivity? Not at all… all of these words describe energy and focus that we as Christians need to have.
So how do we “Stimulate” one another? Hebrews 10:24 states that we need to first consider one another. I have 4 kids but they don’t all march to the same beat. What works to inspire and motivate Daven is not the same for Colby, Kenzie or Shelby. If I want to be successful in stimulating them to good works, I need to take the proper time and to know them and understand how to best reach each of them individually. This is why it is so important for each and every one of us to be engaged in this local congregation by putting on the heart of a servant and seeking the interest and needs of others. It is impossible for me to stimulate you and you to stimulate me if we are never around each other. The fact is that it takes time and energy to build strong relationships and it doesn’t happen overnight. One of the great benefits of the church is the comradery and strength that comes from all us having a common hope and purpose.
There are other verses that instruct Christians to encourage one another:
1 Thessalonians 5:11- Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Ephesians 4:29- Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up (edification), as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Hebrews 10:25- 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.
It is incumbent on each of us to search each other out daily to stimulate one another to love and good deeds! This is God’s expectation for us and it should be ours.
The next time you read Hebrews 10:24 and you’re not sure how to interpret Stimulate… read it this way: “and let us consider how to stimulate (Animate, Arouse, Excite, Provoke, Motivate, amp, brace, energize, fire up, invigorate, jazz up, juice up, jump-start, liven up, pep up, and vitalize) one another to love and good deeds”. Seems pretty clear to me!
Craig Hecht
