September 26 | Hebrews 3:12-15

---

DAILY READING

Hebrews 3:12-15

---

Exhort One Another Every Day

By Ken Dillman

The Book of Hebrews was written sometime around 68AD, primarily to Jewish followers of Jesus who had become Christians. A generation had passed from the time Jesus completed his mission to our world; these early Jewish Christians would have grown older and watched their children grow up to begin having children of their own.

The daily demands of life: work, raising children, navigating the direction the political winds are blowing, caring for older family members, paying taxes, illness, and countless other pressures was probably as discouraging for these followers of Jesus 2000 years ago, as it is for us today.

The writer encourages the readers to “Exhort one another every day.” (Heb. 3:13) The word “exhort” here, carries connotations of bringing another to your side to console, to encourage, to strengthen, to comfort, to instruct, and to teach.

We need that when life’s beating us up, when we’re discouraged, when we feel like giving up, and when we lose sight of what’s most important…our First Love.

I remember being at the lowest point in my life several decades ago; I had experienced betrayal, hate, and ruin in just about every area of my life. I stopped going to church, I stopped praying, I was filled with anger and rage and really had no use for anybody who called themselves “Christian.”

I was introduced to the pastor of a small church in Reynoldsburg; he met me in my struggles and loved me like Jesus did. Without realizing it, he “exhorted” me by welcoming me, encouraging me, consoling me, and teaching me in the gentlest of ways, that allowed me to regain my spiritual footing.

Without recognizing it, when we give in to discouragement, we can quickly acquire an evil, unbelieving heart, and become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, (Heb. 3:12-13) as the author of Hebrews points out; it happened to me.

The authorship of the Book of Hebrews is unknown, it has a certain weight to it that sounds much like the apostle Paul, it’s profound in its demonstration of Jesus being greater than everything that came before him in the Old Testament, including Moses, the priests, the tabernacle, the sacrifices, and the old covenant, placing the probability of authorship at hands of the eloquent Apollos, but its essence is that it’s a Book of great encouragement, the hallmark of Barnabas, known as the “son of encouragement” by those in the early church.

Who in your sphere of contact needs encouraged, consoled, strengthened, comforted, and led to the way of peace in Jesus? 

Perhaps God has put you in their life for that very reason, to “exhort” them today.

PRAYER

Father, would you sensitize us by your Spirit to those around us who need encouragement? Would you empower us through your Spirit to exhort them to keep fighting the good fight of faith. Amen.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KEN DILLMAN

My wife, Karen and I have been attending UALC for 6-7 years and enjoy God's presence in our gatherings. We live in Hilliard; our three adult children live in Central Ohio. I am a retired Chaplain and Pastor, and enjoy writing, walking, jogging, and listening to live music. I appreciate the opportunity to write for the church’s devotionals.