“PREVENTIVE ENCOURAGEMENT”

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

In the human body there is what is called adrenal glands. These glands kick in when the body is depleted and down. They have a way of picking up the tired body.

In the Body of Christ there are adrenal glands called encouragers. Discouragement comes often to believers. Thank God for those in the body who are sensitive to these problems and quickly come to the aid of the discouraged. Many have been the spiritual “adrenal glands” who have come to my rescue in my down times. The key biblical passage for this truth is Hebrews 3:13. You will note two major movements in this verse.

1. The Responsibility

Encourage one another day after day as long as it is still called “Today.” This teaches that encouragement is in order every day of the week as long as the opportunity is there. Everyone in the Body of Christ has this responsibility. This is one of the many “one anothers” that appear in the New Testament. As you look around you on Sunday morning, just say to yourself, “Self, there are people here this morning who need a shot of God’s adrenaline. Lord, just point the way and show me how to do it.”

There are many ways to encourage. You can talk to the individual, make a phone call, send a card with appropriate verses and comments. But even more effective: you can pray for that person, naming specifics if you know any.

2. The Reason

“Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” This is the primary reason we should encourage and pray for others. Sin is deceitful and Satan tries every possible way to take God’s people out of commission with it. Sin, while mostly overt and recognizable, sometimes can be awfully hard to spot. Sin can easily disguise itself as a friend - so we have to constantly be on our toes.

I can hold out a straight stick and ask you to describe it. Well, there’s only one way a stick can be straight. But if I hold out a crooked stick and ask you to describe it, chances are you could not for a stick can be crooked a million different ways. Likewise, sin can be deceitful in a million different ways.

So beloved, you see the responsibility and the reason why we are to constantly encourage each other. I’ll encourage you and you encourage me. OK? God bless.

Love to you all.