And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

Let me preface this by saying I am no chef or cook, but I have eaten a lot of food in my nearly 30 years of life and helped prepare some of that food. When I say I understand the importance of stirring something sitting on the stove, I actually know the importance. I can recall the instructions my mom would give me on Sabbath mornings when she had to leave a pot on the stove to go finish getting ready for church. “Watch that for me and stir it every once in a while.” Simple instructions with huge benefits to the dish. Can you imagine how the curry would have turned out if I was lax in my duties? I can tell you from experience that it would burn. Interestingly, the Bible has some cool ways of helping us recognize the need to be stirred up. If you’ve been at church for the last few weeks, Pastor Godfrey has been going over 2 Peter, in which Peter has stirring reminders for us. Like I said, I am no chef, cook, or anything like it, but I am a firm believer in the benefits of being stirred every once in a while. Will you allow these words to stir you to action? Do you need a little more convincing? Keep reading, and I’d bet my mom’s curry you’ll be moved to action.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 2 Timothy 1:6

Let’s first define stirring when it comes to us. When Peter and other authors talk about stirring, they are not talking about mixing people around to make sure we don’t get burnt out or anything. They are talking about raising in us a feeling or desire to not be still or dead in our faith. When Paul was writing to Timothy, he used a different metaphor, one we all know as well. He says we should “fan into flame.” If you’ve built a fire, you know that sometimes it needs some encouragement through a little breath or oxygen. Like a fire, sometimes we need to be fanned to life; like a stew, we need to be stirred into action so that our spiritual lives do not become stale, burnt, or stagnant.

I love that God knows how we work. I cannot tell you how many times in my life I have desired change simply for the sake of change. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, there have been times in my life when I have known the call that God has placed on my life and have not seen it through, and yet I felt like I needed change. Instead of a new pot of stew, I just needed a little stirring. That's the thing about being stirred: it doesn't change everything all at once. It’s a nudge in the right direction, a reminder of what we are doing. Sometimes we need something new, but sometimes we just need a good nudge in the right direction.

Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder, to remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 2 Peter 3:1-2

When Peter is writing his letter, he is hopeful that by stirring up the community, he will bring a revitalization, an emphasis on purpose and joy in the mission. How does he stir up the community? Peter does so with a reminder of what has been said. He understands that the only thing that can really motivate us to the work of the kingdom is the truth of the kingdom. So how do we stir up others? We point to the Word of God. By searching Scripture, we will find the things spoken by the prophets and by our Lord and Savior; we will find the truth that God has for us.

So here is my stirring encouragement: search the Scriptures if you are feeling stalled out, burnt, or stale. If you are struggling to find joy in the mission, seek God and His community of believers, whom He has equipped to fan the flames. You are not alone! This mission has been given to all of us, and in it, we are partnering with God. Let us allow the Master Chef, who has every Michelin star already hanging in the sky, to stir us up. He may ask us to watch the pot and stir it every once in a while. What an honor.