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 word “encourage” in this passage can mean exhort, comfort, beseech, appeal, or counsel.
I like the word encourage.
The dictionary defines it: “to make someone more determined, hopeful, or confident.” What a joy to be used to do that in someone’s life!
We may consider encouragement something that’s nice for us to do – if we think about it or have time, but not necessarily a big deal if we don’t. We think of encouragement as the proverbial cherry on top of the ice cream sundae: it’s still a sundae, with or without the cherry.
It’s the DaySpring card that sends a warm fuzzy. (Those fuzzies are nice, but optional.)
Encouragement may bring to mind a sweet greeting card, a kind post on social media, or a quick text that conveys love. If encouragement were a color, it would be yellow — the color of smiley faces and sunshine.
But it’s oh-so-much more.
Encouragement is first of all not optional. As members of the body of Christ, the release of encouragement is among those powerful “one anothers” that are expected and commanded in the fellowship of believers.
Hebrews 3:13 one of those verses where we are given a so that.
When raising my kids, sometimes I just told them what I wanted them to do, and I expected obedience. No whys or questions. I’m sure on more than one occasion, I simply said, “Because I’m the mom, that’s why!”
God is GOD. He doesn’t owe us an explanation. Sometimes in Scripture we just get the command.
But other times we get a “so that” – He provides a reason for what He is commanding us to do.
In Hebrews 3:13, the so that for releasing encouragement is protection against sin’s deceitfulness.
What lies does the enemy want to whisper in our ears? What lies has he whispered in your ears? What lies does he whisper in the ear of those we love?
Why are you wasting your time? You’re not appreciated.
Why are you signing up for nursery duty? Your kids are raised. You’ve done your time. Let the younger parents serve.
Why are you still teaching Sunday school after all these years?
Why do you bother? Carrying this meal … making that hospital visit … teaching that class … it doesn’t make a difference.
They don’t care anything about you. No one cares if you go or not. You missed last week and no one even noticed.
So – what’s the implication?
When we withhold encouragement, could we actually be allowing a brother or sister in Christ to be vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy?
When the Holy Spirit whispers in our ear, “Tell him you’re grateful,” or “Let her know what she is doing makes a difference!” – do we follow through on that?
One of the most powerful ways to encourage is to release Scripture into the life of the one we love. During this time of social distancing, receiving real mail is a great blessing … but a text or phone call can also mean more than we imagine to someone needing hope and encouragement.
If you’ve been ignoring that “Encourage someone” box in the weekly section of our ‘Do It’ List, why not make this month the month you choose to ask God who you need to encourage? You might be surprised by the name the Holy Spirit brings to mind.
For more thoughts on encouragement, check out this Martha Monday video over at my Cross My Heart Ministry channel:
Note: If you are new here, our monthly ‘Do It’ List is a one-page plan for managing home and hearth. With sections devoted to daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, we aim to help you take the thinking, planning, wondering (and sighing!) out of what to do … and spur you on to jump in and DO IT! As always, in addition to our standard list, we’re offering a blank version for those of you who have unique tasks that need to be completed at home. For a quick primer on the general premise and some items on the task lists, we suggest that you take a quick peek at previous blog posts HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Download your FREE printable June ‘Do It’ List:
June 2020 ‘Do It’ List – BLANK
Visit them at www.AReasonFor.com to learn more!
