A few years back, our group embarked on teaching in support of an annual theme we called Purposeful Edification.  The idea, of course, was that our efforts to build each other up in Christ should be undertaken with a sense of intentionality or purposefulness.  We have to think about it and plan to do it.  It was all based upon the simple, but important and timeless message of Hebrews 10: 24-25.  In it, the writer admonishes his readers to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.  Do you see what he is communicating?  He didn’t simply admonish them to do edification, he told them to consider how they might do it.  It seems that it is not enough to simply rely on our reflexes when it comes to provoking our brothers and sisters in Christ to love and good works.  We are called upon, in this passage, to consider how we might do this; to think about it, plan it, then do it.  

This means that simply knowing that we should build up our brethren won’t cut it.  We need to pre-plan, to premeditate, if you will, what we can be doing to actualize that knowledge. We’ve got to have a plan.  If we don’t, nothing will happen on purpose, only incidentally.  Consequently, nothing much will happen.  However, if we come to our assemblies with a plan to do some targeted, intentional building-up, Hebrews 10 gets done in some wonderful ways.  And let’s not sleep on the last part of the admonition above (not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some).  We can’t execute God’s will in this area if we are not at the assemblies.  Absence is actually the opposite of encouragement, wouldn’t you agree? 

Notice what Paul wrote to the believers in Rome at the beginning of his letter to them: I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. (Romans 1: 11-12) Paul longed to be with them, he had a purpose in mind to impart a spiritual gift to them, and he knew they would each be encouraged together by the other’s faith.  That’s the power that being together has to build up the body of Christ.

You probably know members of your local church who do this purposeful edification thing really well, don’t you?  You see them every Sunday.  They cross age boundaries to make sure people who need a hug or a word of encouragement get exactly that.  They show up to every assembly possible because they know that their presence matters – not only to God – but to their brethren.  They know that the best way to provoke love and good deeds is to do love and good deeds – preferably on the heads of their fellow believers.  And it kind of looks like they’re doing it on purpose.

So, what do I learn from them?  First, I need to come to the assemblies.  Make no mistake, Hebrews 10 is saying just exactly that.  Second, I need to come with a plan.  Who do you know who may be hurting?  Who is by themselves and needs to be welcomed and included?  Maybe encouraging them should be your plan this week.  Third, I need to remember that purposeful edification will almost certainly mean peeling away from the people with whom I feel the most comfortable.  Do I go entire Sundays without ever “crossing the aisle” and talking with somebody who’s not my demographic?  Yep.  That’s not gonna do it.  I need to take a walk and spread the love.

As a general rule, we need to think more deeply about the implications of what God has done for us and asked of us.  We know we should love, but what does that look like?  We know we should encourage, but how are we going to make that happen?  All of the imperatives in scripture need to find manifestation somehow in our actions.  Being purposeful in our edification is the perfect place to start.  Imagine what it would look like in our local churches if everybody showed up.  Just start there.  Amazing.  Now imagine if everybody showed up – and they showed up with a plan.  Just think of all the stuff that would happen on purpose.  The doubting would be strengthened, the hurting would be bound up, brethren would be inspired to greater love and service, visitors would be welcomed, and the disenfranchised would be brought close.  Super amazing.  

If you’re aching to make a difference in someone’s life, this is your chance to do it.  Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”  So, think about who you could inspire this week, in and out of your local church assemblies. Then plan it and do it.  Call, text, email, visit, hug, encourage.  Gather at every opportunity, and show up with a plan.  Purposeful, intentional love + good deeds.   It will equal a stronger, happier, and more edified church family!