Exhort One Another

Hebrews 3:12-19 (ESV)
[12]Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. [13]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. [14]For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. [15]As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
[16]For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? [17]And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? [18]And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? [19]So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

What is your responsibility to those whom you worship with? What is your responsibility to those who are playing church? In my opinion, I believe there are many who claim to be Christian, yet who have not believed in Jesus. Verse 12 talks about there might be any among you with an evil, unbelieving heart (Romans 10:9 gives the basis of salvation as confession and belief). These who are playing church may even lead us to fall away: so what do we do?

We are to exhort one another every day. “Exhort” can also be translated “encourage,” “invite” or “warn.” For myself, I find writing an excellent way to exhort: I am determined to let God have all of me (Romans 12:1-2) and to let His word change me (II Timothy 3:16-17). By writing these devotionals I am “inviting” others to let His word “encourage” them in their walk with the Lord and “warn” them about pitfalls that I experience.

The best way to exhort is to get involved with someone’s life. Instead of looking for their weaknesses so you can fix them (we know that it is only God who can “fix” them), we share with them how God’s word has transformed us in different situations. I, for one am, willing to put on the “counselor” hat a little too quickly instead of being an exhorter who trusts in the true Counselor (John 14:26) who uses God’s word to guide us.

So please, find a way to exhort those in your fellowship. Invite them to walk in God’s word with you as you share how He has transformed and is transforming you according to His word. Who knows - the one that is playing church may just come to full knowledge of God's saving grace through Jesus Christ.