“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13
The author of Hebrews had just stated that a believer must not harden his heart like the Jews did in the wilderness. Now with that warning, he tells the believers to encourage each other so that their hearts do not get hardened.
What does he mean to encourage each other? It is to encourage each other to continue to serve God, to believe in Jesus. It is to encourage each other to continue to turn away from sinful ways.
When a person is running a long distance race, he often will need encouragement to continue to the end. There will be stretches that are difficult and may cause the runner to stop. There will be times when there will be a severe pain in the side causing him to want to stop the race. If there are people on the side of him encouraging him to keep going, he most likely will. The encouragement gives that extra boost to keep going correctly.
In life there will be many challenges you must face as a believer. The challenges of just life, nothing directly against God, such as paying the bills on time. These challenges have sometimes been so great that a believer stops trusting God because nothing is going right. This is where another believer must step up and encourage him to keep going.
There are also times when you or a friend may be facing temptations to go the wrong direction or do the wrong thing. This is where you must step up and encourage him or be encouraged to do the right thing.
This is not condemning the person, pointing out his wrongs, but encouraging to follow Jesus. Show love and Jesus to the person. This will encourage him to stay with and follow Jesus.
When encouraged like this, it will keep the heart from being hardened. It will keep you from falling into sinful practice. Keep your heart soft towards Jesus. Encourage others to keep their hearts soft towards Jesus.
Every day talk about Jesus and His Words. Continue to sing songs of praise around others. This will keep your heart and the hearts of others focused on Jesus.
I pray today that you will be encouraged to continue to follow Jesus; that you will be an encouragement to others for Jesus; that you will keep your heart soft for Jesus; and that you will not be caught up in sin’s deceitfulness.
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