Many of you may know that I have been riding a handcycle (a recumbent bicycle powered by your arms instead of legs) since I am no longer able to run. I am training to, hopefully, complete the Oklahoma City marathon next spring. On one of my recent handcycle rides, I had a unique experience. I started my ride and immediately got caught up in a triathlon that I did not know was taking place. I was surrounded by lots of people running and was trying to weave my way in and out of them all. The bystanders were cheering me on thinking I was a participant in the race. The people working the drink stations were trying to give me cups of water. The whole thing was a bit comical.

However, what struck me most about this experience was how so many runners were cheering me on. They could see my prosthesis and that I was on an odd-looking contraption and they took the effort to encourage me—“Way to go, man!” “You can do this!” “Way to get out here!” One guy yelled loudly at me, “Listen to me, man! You got this! You can do this!” I have to admit that encouragement felt really good. Being in a crowd with people spurring you on to achieve a goal is a great place to be. I wanted to crank on those bike handles faster than ever before!

Riding in that crowd of encouragers made me think of the words of Heb.10:24, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” The root word for “stir up” was used negatively as in “to stir up with anger” or “be irritated/incensed.”

However, there is one unusual exception of how the word is used in the New Testament—Heb. 10:24. Here, it is used in a positive sense to “stir up,” “stimulate,” or “provoke” others to good deeds. The author of Hebrews appears to be using the word in an unusual, positive sense to emphasize the force of the word. We should encourage others with the same force or passion that our anger or irritation can be with people and circumstances.

After the first couple of miles on the ride, I got beyond the runners and passed two people who were standing by the trail. As they watched me go, one noticed my prosthesis and the unusual action of the bike and with a look of disdain said to the other in a condescending tone, “What a freak!” I’m used to people staring at me these days and saying some interesting things, but that one kind of stung me.

I thought of another, different Greek word that’s also translated “stir up” that means something different than the one in Heb. 10:24. Mark 15:11 states, “The chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him [Pilate] release for them Barabbas.” Here, the word for “stir up” has a root that means “to shake/agitate” or “to violently move something back and forth.” In the New Testament, this word for “stir up” was commonly used of inciting an entire city (Matt. 21:10) or a crowd to riot (Mk. 15:11, Lk. 23:5) and is used in this way throughout Acts.

Here is what I was reminded of that day on my hand cycle ride: words can be used to “stir up” people positively or “stir up” people negatively. “You got this! You can do it!” stirs up within others a desire to keep going and not give up. “What a freak!” stirs up doubt and defeat in others. One builds and the other tears down. One leads to good works and the other leads to turmoil. Let’s be mindful of what kind of “stirring up” our words cause in others.

Whatever “stirring up” you encounter, keep going, keep pedaling, keep walking with the Lord and serving Him. Remember that your worth and identity comes not from the words of others, but from your relationship with Jesus and the Word He has given to us.

Now, let’s go “stir up” some things in a good way today!