Hebrews 10:24-25 - Poke the right bear

What gets you stirred up? Who do YOU stir up?

My wife recently observed how there's never a shortage of people stirring up fear in others.

Conversely, "Perfect love casts out fear," (1 John 4:18, NASB) which is why we're told,
"Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works." Hebrews 10:24 (New International Reader's Version) 

I.e., Take time to figure out how to motivate others to love in a way which benefits even more people.

The next verse gives us some ways of doing this:
"Let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us cheer each other up with words of hope. Let us do it all the more as you see the day coming when Christ will return." (Hebrews 10:25 NIrV)

Even without the excuse of a pandemic--some make it a habit of not meeting with other believers. Don't give up meeting together.

Note:
This verse doesn't limit "meeting together" to Sunday morning worship services.
This verse doesn't set a number on how many --or how few-- should be meeting.
Jesus promised to be present even if only two or three are meeting (Matthew 18:20).
This verse doesn't give details about medical precautions when there is an epidemic.

On the other hand...
Being able to motivate love in others may mean self-sacrificing my personal convenience.
It may mean sacrificing my own freedom or safety while protecting the safety of others. (Romans 14:13, etc.) If that means wearing a mask when I don't feel I need one, so be it.

Consider the limitations and inconveniences the early church went through.
When persecuted, they met together in underground crypts--the catacombs. 
Challenging times call for creative solutions.

Along the way, "cheer each other up with words of hope," particularly that one day Christ will return. In the meantime, let us pray...

Father in heaven, Bless our ability to think through how to promote love instead of fear. Whenever and however we meet with other believers, give us words that rally each other in hope, looking forward to Your Son's return. In His name we pray, Amen.