Today’s verses on loving one another may be difficult for us to hear. The verses for today may feel impossible. They may cause you to wonder how we can do it. They may even “rub you the wrong way.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

^“24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

²⁵ 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.”

Let’s break this down:

• consider – We need to attentively understand. This takes effort.
• one another – This is not a one-way street. It means we look after each other. We each attentively watch out for the other. Family. Brothers and sisters in Christ watch out for each other.
• provoke – Typically, we think of “provoke” in the negative sense. However, in this verse, we will see that we are provoking (inciting or irritating according to the link on Blue Letter Bible) one another to something positive.
• love and good works – We are helping each other move to loving people and to good works. The term “good works” here encompasses more than just doing a few good deeds. It is about so much more. Looking at the full scope on Blue Letter Bible, it mentions beauty, honor, and noble to name just a few things.

So far, so good. We can do these things from our weak state, in our pain. It is the next verses that can cause a bit of angst on our part.

• Not forsaking  – Forsaking is abandoning something. As we love one another, what are we not to abandon?
• assembling of ourselves – The assembling of Christians together. Typically we think of this as church which is not feasible for many of us with disability, chronic illness, or caregiving in our families. There are valid reasons that we cannot attend. This is where it gets hard in this verse.
• as the manner of some is – In other words, don’t be like them! Make assembling together a priority unlike others.
• exhorting one another – Here is the why of assembling together. We need to encourage each other, admonish, and strengthen.
• so much the more – This fellowship is even more important in the time in which we live.
• as ye see the day approaching – The time of Christ’s return is coming. As we see the changes in the world as His return comes closer, meeting together is more important.

Whew! There is a lot to unpack in these two verses. But, what can we take away from them as those who are shut-in, those who cannot attend church regularly or possibly not at all? How can we do this?

I don’t even begin to think I have the answers as every person’s situation is different and have spent time pondering these verses.

I think there are a couple take-aways.

1. For us as the isolated – Make whatever fellowship you can have a priority. Some ideas:
   1. Find a church that you can watch online and watch faithfully (join them from home), pray for their prayer requests, serve where you can (maybe you would be able to fold bulletins at home or be a part of the prayer chain), and send encouragement or even financial support.
   2. Participate in an online Bible Study.
   3. Attend church when you can, when it is feasible.
   4. Partner with a friend to pray together, share, and study the Word together
   5. Encourage and exhort people in the church.
2. For churches – Make getting involved possible for the shut-ins to actually be a part of the church:
   1. Perhaps have a family or small group in the church ‘adopt’ the shut-in, not as a service project, but as a part of the group.
   2. Find ways to include the shut-in remotely, with prayer requests, or with small service projects.
   3. Truly get to know the shut-in more than occasional visits.
   4. Encourage and exhort the shut-in.

These verses are hard for us to wrap our minds around in our current season, but vitally important. We also need fellowship from our brothers and sisters in Christ. I think that we must get creative in obtaining this needed fellowship, but also must make it a priority. We need to remember that various seasons in our illness journey may mean different ways that we accomplish this fellowship.

Do you have other ideas or examples of ways that you apply these verses in disability or chronic illness? Please share them!