6 Minute Read + Scripture readings
Today’s Bible Reading:
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
“But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”
Hebrews 3:13 (CSB)
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
At First Baptist Church, where I pastor, I have told many of the men repeatedly that we need to love each other enough to confront each other if we see that we are engaging in something sinful. If I hear a man in our congregation talking badly about his wife, or stirring up trouble, or any number of other serious sins, I’m going to confront him. I love the Lord, the church, and the sinner too much to leave it alone.
Today’s verse points to one of the main reasons why I feel this way so strongly. Sin can harden our hearts.
Imagine a man who has worked hard to kill sin in his life and he stays “confessed up.” He hates sin and sin’s consequences but he is humble and honest enough to know that he struggles each day and desperately needs Jesus to get the victory. This man’s heart will generally be soft and sensitive.
If God desires to lead this man or bring conviction about some sin that he may not even be aware of, he will feel the Spirit’s promptings and will make the necessary adjustments.
But, let’s say that another man has experienced an injustice. Someone did something to him that was wrong, but he refuses to forgive. In fact, his unforgiveness has been going on for awhile and it has fermented into bitterness.
If God desires to lead this man or bring conviction about some other sin that he may not even be aware of, he will probably be deaf to the Spirit’s promptings. His heart may have become so hardened by his tolerance of his unforgiveness that he just isn’t receptive to God’s leading in his life. Further, he may refuse to make things right and get angry if someone confronts him with his sin.
That’s where godly men and women come in. We should love each other so much that we insist that we won’t allow our brothers and sisters to progress that far toward hard-heartedness. When we see sin, ideally in its early stages, we humbly and compassionately call it out with a desire that the sinner forsakes it and makes it right.
The “encouragement” in the verse I have chosen for today seems to be an encouragement toward holiness. It is when we say what is needed to help each other along as we become more like Jesus.
Hebrews 3:13 (CSB): “But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”
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Lord Jesus, I believe that a fear of confrontation is what keeps me from calling out sin in those I love. I also believe that pride is what causes me to resist someone who points out sin in my own life. I pray that I would conform to the principle of Hebrews 3:13 and realize that if we love each other, we’ll help each other to identify sin (what is harmful to us and robs God of glory) and forsake it. Amen.
Matt’s Musings 