Fresh Lettuce

Hebrews 10-Part 2
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  hebrews 10:24-25


LET IT GLOW

Behind the well house, in the warm, morning, summer sun, a small patch of lettuce would grow. That is where our fresh garden salad came from that was on the table. Along with the fresh lettuce was red and white radishes and smal,l green tops of garden onions. A bright red, juicy tomato topped it off.  Mom liked her fresh salad and so did I. Now Dad, on the other hand, preferred wilted lettuce, bacon grease poured over the lettuce with watercress straight from the creek, along with onions. It was ok, but not my preference. Well, enough of the eating kind of lettuce. Our scripture mentions four times, "let us"...
So, let us see what it says. (smile)

1.  Let us draw near to God. How are we to draw near, since we have a High Priest, a new and living
     way (Jesus)? See verse 22:

• with a sincere heart,
• fulling trusting Him,
• having a sprinkled guilty conscious,
• cleaned with Christ's blood,
• washed body with pure water.

2. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith (verse 23). How?

• tightly to the hope we affirm,
• without wavering,
• trusting God to keep His promise.

3. Let us consider one another (verse 24). How?

• think of ways to motivate,
• motivate one another to acts of love,
• motivate one another to good works. 

4. Let us not neglect our meeting together (verse 25 NLT). How?

• assembling together for worship,
• don't stop like some are doing.

5. Let us encourage one another (verse 25b, NIV). How?

• remember Jesus' return is coming soon. 

That sounds like a fresh Word to me. I'm ready to take in some more, how about you?

LET IT GROW

exhorting-encouragement, comfort, warning, or strengthening. (MacArthur)

It was encouraging to me when I listened three messages on "Encouragement Served Family Style."
They were given by Charles Swindoll and you can find them on insight.org.
Here are a few encouraging words he said:

encourage-inspire with courage, hope, give help.

Our family encourages us the most, but are usually the last to receive it from us.
Encouraging words give us strength by transfussion. When we are encouraged, we transfer it to others.
Encouragement is not the respoonsibility of a few, but for all in the family.
Encouragement is not something needed less in the body, but is needed more.
We stumble into church (or home) battered and bruised by the world. That's when we need encouraging words, not critical comments.

1Samuel 23:16 says And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

We all know what good friends David and Jonathan were. Am I an encouraging friend when one is in need? Do I go to them? Will I encourage my husband and children when they need it?

LET IT GO

Are ther things I need to let go of so God can use me as an encourager?

Watch the words I say.

Let us encourage one another.

We may be the only Jesus some will ever see.