Encourage One Another (Hebrews 3)

It's easy to feel positive and encouraged about life when our kids are applying themselves to their school work (most of the time), when we’ve followed through on our goals and met with success, or when we have received positive feedback from our most important people.

In Hebrews 3:13, the words encourage and exhort are interchangeable.

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

One version even renders it “watch your step” or “make sure.”The Greek word parakaleo is the origin point, which is from the same root as the word used for the Holy Spirit in John 14:16:

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever...."

As encouragers, our instructions are to come alongside one another and help. In the original context, the author is urging his readers to help others in the faith to stay true to the teachings of Christ, to embrace fully their new identity in Christ rather than going back to the Levitical system of temple sacrifices.

The “daily” encouragement believers are called to is tied to edification or building one another up in the truth — rather than just helping someone to feel better. In fact, sometimes, “encouraging” another believer means saying hard truth, delivering a sober message about attitudes that have cropped up or habits of speech that don’t glorify God.

Hebrews 3:13 makes it clear that we are called to this ministry of encouragement because sin is deceitful — the concept of inertia comes to mind. The tendency is to stay in the negative pattern unless acted upon by an outside force. I need the outside force of exhortation because at times my heart is unable to discern its own motives. The Reformation Study Bible hits the nail on the head:

“Sin promotes the illusion that disobedience is more secure or pleasurable than the pilgrimage of faith.”

Inertia-busting exhortation reveals truth to the deceived heart.

To believingly follow Jesus Christ is to watch out for our fellow believers. Tim Kimmel puts it memorably:

“True greatness is a passionate love for God that demonstrates itself in an unquenchable love and concern for others.”

The question is, do I love others enough to take the risk — and to take the time — to speak hard truth or to point out an area of giftedness that is not being fully utilized?

Are you willing to be the outside force that the Holy Spirit uses to encourage a fellow believer onto a better path?