I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

November 21, 2013

I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

Hebrews 3:12-19

Lindsey Duncan

Central Truth

Lean on your fellow believers to push you toward Christ, and encourage them in the same way.

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)

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 have come to 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.

News flash: Life is hard.

But then, you already knew that, didn't you? In fact, it isn't news at all if you've been alive for more than ten minutes. How good God was to build fellowship into His plan for those who love Him and put their trust in Jesus.

About a year ago, I joined a community group that meets once a week to study the Bible and generally share life with one another. Knowing that I can show up and be transparent with these women about the things I'm working on, going through, or wrestling with is important for my spiritual growth. But even more valuable is the fact that I can count on them to speak Truth to me and to encourage me to become ever more familiar with God and His character. When my compass becomes shaky, they're there to point me back toward true north.

The author of Hebrews is exhorting us to love each other through the simple act of encouragement. Knowing that we will find ourselves in the midst of discouraging circumstances from time to time, God clearly weaves throughout the Bible a theme of using our words to uplift one another (Ephesians 4:29). And how blessed we are when someone does the same for us!

No, life isn't always easy, even though the King of Kings walks steadily and faithfully with us. So let's pause today -- as long as it is called today -- to listen, to care, and to continue nudging one another gently toward the compassion of our loving Savior, Jesus.

1. Whom can you encourage today?

2. How have you been encouraged lately? What made it an encouraging experience?

3. Why does the deceitfulness of sin lead to a hardened heart? How does God use others to draw us back to Himself?

4. Study the way Jesus talks to people. How does He balance truth with compassion when pointing people toward His Father?