The Mercy of Exhortation

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Paul, through his letter to the church at Corinth, reminds us that what happened to Israel is written down for our instruction. Over the past six days, we have journeyed through a piece of their story together. In doing so, we have seen how they doubted God's provision and His presence and how He ultimately provided a creative solution. Paul is instructing us that it is not enough to be viewers of this story but students of it so that we may learn from their mistakes.

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.

Hebrews 3:13

Exhortation stirs up our faith so that we are not deceived and led to fall away. It is not only a mercy; it is a necessity, and it requires community. To be encouraged, we must be around other Jesus followers, spending time in the scripture, fasting, and praying.

To do this requires humility and vulnerability. If we are constantly projecting strength and self-sufficiency, then we should not be surprised when discouragement is a daily friend. In the courage to be seen, we find the grace to be known.

After being encouraged or exhorting others, we must remember our greatest source of encouragement: with the Lord and through His word.

Every single book, narrative, psalm, parable, prophet, and epistle builds up our faith. All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, training, and righteousness.

Hebrews 14:14-19 says, "For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief."

Hebrews was written to exhort the saints to persevere in Christ. Here, the writer reminds us to hold hands with the confidence we started with.

However we came to place our trust in Jesus; we were encouraged because we recognized He was Lord, Messiah, King, El Shaddai, Almighty. We recognized Him and, in doing so, saw ourselves too.

We found He was the only person in the whole world worthy of our full self. Not only was He worthy, but we were needy. We needed Him then, and we need Him now.

So we have a decision to make. We can discipline our minds, time, and intake to create a lasting walk with Jesus.

Don't throw away your confidence; instead, look to Jesus. He who called you is with you and cares the world about you.