To Encourage You

1 Samuel 19:1 “And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David.”

Are you familiar with any conspiracy theories? There are a lot of them.  I remember all the talk for years after President Kennedy was shot.  There were studies done and commissions formed to investigate whether a lone gunman was responsible for the assassination or if it was a conspiracy of some type with many others involved.   You probably remember Hillary Clinton talking about “the vast right-wing conspiracy” that was trying to take down her husband when he was president.  Of course, those on the right have their own conspiracy theories about what the left is up to.  Some conspiracies are legitimate, like the conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln as well as many of those in his cabinet at that time. Others are specious and nothing more than the product of someone’s very fertile imagination. 

Well, the verse above talks about a very legitimate conspiracy that occurred at the time of King Saul. This verse tells us that Saul was plotting with his own son and all his servants to kill David, who had been anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the new king who would replace Saul. Saul was jealous of David and was willing to do anything to destroy him. If he couldn’t do it himself, he’d employ the help of many others.  His plans were typical of a conspiracy, which is defined as “a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.” What a contrast to what God would have his people to be about. 

In Hebrews 10:24 we are called to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” And how do we do this?  The next verse explains it with these words: “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.” Have you ever thought about a meeting of a group of Christians in these terms?  In essence, believers are to meet together, in part, to be involved in a “conspiracy” to do good.  In our meetings, which are typically, but not always, done within the four walls of a church building, we are to be “plotting,” if you will, as to how to love people and encourage them to likewise love others. And we are to ask God to help us in our plans. We are to pray for opportunities to share the hope of the gospel both in word and deed. 

I’ve seen signs that hang above the exit door of some churches which say, “You are now entering the mission field.”  The idea is that the worship and teaching that has just gone on within the building is to be a preparation for the work of the church in the world – a work of spreading the good news of the reconciliation with God that is possible for the very enemies of God through Christ.  As any Christian knows full well, that message is not always welcomed with open arms.  In fact, there is often opposition to the message and the messengers that speak it. Nevertheless, we are to encourage one another to keep on keeping on, for “the Day is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).  Jesus said the same thing in so many words when he said, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4).” 

May God help us, while we still have time, to be involved in a “conspiracy of good” as we live our lives. May we heed the Scriptures call to “not neglect to meet together as the manner of some is.” May we work together to bring blessing and hope to others and to foil the efforts of the enemy of our souls, whose every scheme is designed only to “kill and steal and destroy” (John 10:10).