Soul Train

07/27/2008

And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another,
studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble
activities. Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit
of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another,
and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (AB)

In this fast-paced, sometimes seemingly-cold and indifferent world, there are people making the decision to tarry with another--“to wait in expectation of something, to stay temporarily at a place” of discomfort and pain with them, and help to see them through it. It is wonderfully refreshing to hear these stories about the time being taken with other souls on this earth, putting out that effort, loving that much so as to wait with another for the storm to ease, for healing to come, for joy to return. When it seems no one out there cares, someone does…there are people slowing down long enough to care deeply enough, and to love as thoroughly and as unconditionally as God commands.

We can pray to Jesus, but sometimes when the fog of pain is very, very thick, the sound of the Savior’s voice can seem very, very faint. So, the “Savior” shows up in the form of a friend, or a relative, or a therapist, or a pastor, or a mentor, and they speak words of Truth and Hope that need to be heard, or are there to listen…listen…listen…when that heart needs to cry out to someone, anyone willing to stop long enough to hear what’s needing to be said.

This verse in Hebrews 10 talks about “not neglecting or forsaking to assemble together.” It’s reminiscent of assembling a train track, and of how all of us together are a very long train with each one of us being an individual train car. As believers, we’re all on the same track, and we’re all moving towards the same destination…our Heavenly Home. We could go it alone with Jesus Christ in the lead, we could travel on down the track and arrive safely Home without being connected to the other cars on the track, but how much nicer is it to be connected to each other along the way. To be assembled as a train of one, as One Body of believers in Jesus Christ, and to help one another as we push and pull each other along, to “stimulate and incite” as the Amplified Bible says. That’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? To do “this thing” together!! The whole “thing,” the whole walking with Jesus works so much better that way, doesn’t it? When we are connected to one another in the Body of Christ, it would behoove us all to “consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another” wouldn’t it? We’re all a part of life’s Soul Train of cars. Let’s not let one another get derailed or sidetracked along the way! The track of life is windy, and it goes up hills and down into valleys, and through every sort of “terrain” imaginable. We need one another, as all the more faithfully we “see the day approaching.”

On that day, as believers in Jesus Christ, we’ll all be assembled together in the Great Hall…and what a glorious never-ending day it will be!