“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I don’t like reading this verse, if I’m honest, because I have definitely gotten out of the habit of going to church. Since Covid I have watched my local church’s live streaming service every Sunday morning.

Covid is no longer what is preventing me. I have all sorts of excuses and rationalizations and reasons, but it’s largely just so much easier to flip on the TV at the prescribed time and sit on my couch to listen to the praise songs and then the sermon. I can even watch it later if something important needed to happen during the church hour. (What could be more important than church?) And if I can watch it later, it’s so easy just to not watch it at all.

But then I come to today’s verses.

Clearly I am not being obedient here. I am not gathering together with other Christians to encourage them or consider them or provoke them to love or good deeds.

Now, it’s true that the “gathering together” part does not necessarily have to be at church on Sunday. It could be anywhere, anytime, for any reason. The problem is that my husband and I moved to where we live now at the start of the pandemic. We didn’t get a chance to find a church and go in person to meet people and establish any relationships there. There is no one at the church we “attend” every Sunday that knows who I am or that I am there (in Spirit.) How could I possible encourage anyone while staring at a TV screen? (Other than my husband, I suppose.) How could I provoke love and good deeds in anyone when they have never met me or even seen me once?

Sitting in a pew listening to a church sermon is also not really the place where these things happen, but by physically being in the group, I will meet people, interact with them, gradually get to know some — even as an introvert. It happens. There are also other group activities within a church — volunteer events, classes, celebrations — where I can show my consideration for other people, love them, provoke them to love, and encourage them.

I just can’t obey today’s verse from my couch, no matter how much I want to.

Dear God,

Thank you for today’s verse even though I do not want to hear it. Thank you for shining a spotlight on this glaring failure in my walk with you. Please forgive my laziness, selfishness, and rationalizations. And now show me how you’d like me to step into a group of your followers so that I can encourage them and love them and provoke love and good deeds among them. Give me wisdom, strength, and courage!