Exhorting One Another

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Heb 10:24-25

The above passage reminds us that we have a responsibility toward one another as members of Christ’s body and that our diligence in that role should increase as the day of the Lord draws near.  This passage sums up that role as “exhorting one another.”  What does “exhorting” mean exactly?  I was surprised at what I found as I dug a little deeper.

The word “exhorting” is an interesting one because in the original language it is a basically a derivative of the word used for the Holy Ghost in Jn 14:16.  In the John passage, it is often translated “Comforter,” “Helper,” or “Counselor” depending on your translation, but what the word literally means is “called to one’s side.”  It is the word “Paraclete,” a term you may have heard applied to the Spirit of God.

The point is that we are called to be in the flesh what the Holy Ghost is in the spirit–we are called to one another’s side!  Just as the Holy Ghost stands by us and watches over us as He comforts, exhorts, instructs, rebukes, and encourages, we are to do that for one another!  It is our responsibility as part of this body. In Heb 3:13, the term is used again.  Here the passage reads “exhort one another daily.”  Did you notice when we are to exhort? Daily! Whenever we encounter one another–not just on the Lord’s Day or at religious gatherings, but at every opportunity–we ought to encourage each other in the Lord.  Christ summed up the role of the Spirit in Jn 15:26: “But when the Helper comes…He will testify of me.”  That’s our job, brethren, in a nutshell.  Get one another to Christ!  Testify of Him!  Shake off the distractions of this world and point to Jesus.  He’s the only hope any of us have…

Jamie

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