Let us consider how to stir one another 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, ESV

When I was in the 4th grade (or so) I had a teacher who really knew how to motivate her students. She did so in such a subtle way as to make us want to do the work without realizing that it was her idea. She could come up with a project and make it seem so exciting that we enthusiastically would dive into it with all of our efforts. It's a rare gift, and one that would be beneficial to each one of us, if we all could but learn to emulate it.

The best example of her "sneaky" encouragement was with a simple chain made of paper links. She wanted her class to learn to love to read, so she came across the idea to make it into a competition - not only a competition against the entire class, but also against ourselves as individuals. She began with a single paper link affixed to the ceiling, and each student's name was written on their personal link. Every time a student read an approved book, another link was added to the chain. Now this may seem simple, but I was absolutely fascinated by the concept of watching my own personal chain grow in comparison to the chains of my classmates.

As the year went by, I saw the links on my chain edging closer and closer to the floor, and I began to dive into the project with an even greater enthusiasm. Finally, the day came when several of our chains actually touched the floor, and then the teacher went back to the top of that chain and began adding the additional links that started the whole process over. I don't remember who won the competition for the year, but I can tell you that my chain went from floor to ceiling more than once.

it wasn't until years later that I realized the teacher was building within us an enthusiasm for reading, instead of a zeal for building chains!

There is a similarity to that teacher's strategy and the command we read above from Hebrews. As the inspired writer tells us not to forsake our gathering together as a church for the worship, he does so in such a way as to describe God's reason for this particular responsibility: It is so that we will encourage one another in such a way as to make us want to stir each other up to love and good deeds.

We are not building a chain of "perfect attendance" by simply meeting together. God wants us to have this common fellowship so that we can be a continual encouragement to one another. God takes no pleasure in our merely "filling the pew" on Sunday morning; rather, He wants us to go beyond that and do something that is beneficial to our fellow Christians. And when we actually think about how we can stir one another up towards love and good deeds, it gives us a purpose in that fellowship. We are actually seeking to make each other feel good for being at the worship. 

We have all visited that "cold" congregation where hardly anyone spoke to us the whole time we were there. Did you want to go back to such a lackluster group, or did you continue your search for a body of Christians who would provide you with an encouragement because of their enthusiasm and friendliness? The fact is that most churches grow much faster when they are obeying both sides of this commandment you see above. It is true that they are not neglecting the gathering together for worship, but it is also true that they have a zeal for being there in the first place.

And like the teacher's strategy in my younger years, the Master's strategy has a way of making us want to be at the worship, because we feel good just by being with people who are genuinely happy to see us. This in turn makes us want to "grow our chains" of stirring one another on to love and good works. It is a fact that being around enthusiastic people builds an enthusiasm in us, and being around friendly people makes us want to be friendly in return.

And the chain grows in such an environment of love! 

When you think about it, God is the master motivator! He is not manipulative as some might believe. He loves us more than words can say, and He desires for us to be surrounded by a family of Christians who will make us feel not only accepted but valued. And such an attitude is contagious! It has a way of making the entire church want to be with each other, and it is quite attractive to outsiders. And when the church serves as a loving encouragement to one another, it entices others who need that same encouragement in their own lives.

And when they get the encouragement that we all need, it has a way of motivating them to do the same for others! It has a way of making us want to start a chain of our own, a chain that will extend far enough to provide loving encouragement to everyone we come in contact with. Have you started your chain yet? You can begin the very next time the church meets!