HEBREWS 3:12-13 – “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
THEME OF THE DAY: HOW TO PREVENT A HARD HEART. It is the worst spiritual condition in which a Christian may find themselves. And yes, it may truly happen to a person genuinely born again. Its causes are many; prolonged willful sin, allowance of a worldly lifestyle, patterns of spiritual neglect of church, the Bible, and prayer, absenting oneself from fellowship with healthy Christians, and what we see in today’s scripture. The one identified might not be something we think about much, if any. A hardened heart leading to a serious spiritual condition of backsliding occurs when Christians fail to be consistently encouraging other Christians. Let’s make two observations from the text for our edification and help in preventing a hard heart through the ministry of encouragement.
First, there is the exhortation to be on guard – take care, brethren. The scriptures everywhere tell us to live watchful lives for the coming of the Lord and temptation to sin. A Christian who is not watchful will be a Christian who is in spiritual trouble. It will not be a matter of if this believer fails and because spiritually hardened, but when. Jesus, Himself, exhorts us to be on watchful through prayer . . .
“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
The watchful Christian is an armed Christian; armed against anything and anyone leading him or her into heart-hardening sin.
The second application equipping us to fight against a hardened heart is the ministry of encouragement itself . . .
“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).
To encourage means “give courage” and it isn’t just making people feel good. It is helping them gain strength, to refresh, to recover from a saddened condition. We do this in multiple ways but always with spiritual emphasis, particularly sharing of the Word.
We may encourage other believers by an email message, a text, phone call, sharing coffee, tea, or lunch, even a good old fashion “snail mail” card or note. The goal is to get the discouraged Christian to get his or her eyes off themselves and their circumstances and focus on the Lord Jesus and His promises. Remember, the power of the Word and how we have been encouraged by it being shared by an encourager! Here is a personal illustration. Every Sunday morning, around 6:00 a.m. I receive a text of encouragement from a dear brother. Never fails. Whether he is in town, out of town, it comes and what a shot of encouragement it is!
When it comes to the ministry of encouragement, remember we are commanded, and it helps prevent a hardened heart. And all it takes for us to be obedient to this ministry and command is forget ourselves and think of others. So, let’s take this command seriously not only for the sake of others, but our own hearts!
PRAYER: Father, help me to be an encourager for the sake of others and to help keep my heart soft before You.
REFLECTION: The only thing necessary to be an encourager to others is to forget yourself and think more of others.