Verse of the Day 9/15

Verse of the Day 9/15    

Hebrews 3:13

New King James Version

13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

In September many new small groups have started up.  Small groups are an important element in the growth of the church and the spiritual development of it's members.  Today's verse is a call to "exhort", to challenge and encourage others daily towards spiritual growth. The shared experiences of others within the group can be a source can be a source of strength and help us to persevere in our faith through what life throws at us.

As I was driving yesterday, I listened to a sermon from John Piper and it happened to be on Hebrews 13:3 and he used it to reinforce the importance of small groups to his church and others.

Pastor John Piper writes, 'one of the essential means of not becoming hardened — the protection against an evil heart of unbelief — is the other believers around you speaking faith-sustaining words into your life — your family, your friends, your shepherd group. "Exhort one another every day." That is, speak words of faith-sustaining truth into each other's lives. Paul said in Ephesians 4:29, "Only let out of your mouth what is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."....So the second point of this theology of perseverance is that God has designed his church so that its members endure to the end in faith by means of giving and receiving faith-sustaining words from each other. You and I are the instruments by which God preserves the faith of his children. Perseverance is a community project. Just like God is not going to evangelize the world without human, faith-awakening voices, neither is he going to preserve his church without human faith-sustaining voices. And clearly from the words, "exhort one another" (verse 13), it means all of us, not just preachers. We depend on each other to endure in faith to the end."

Think about that, do you need to hear those around you  "speaking faith sustaining words into your life"?  If so, consider joining a small group.  If you're already in one, consider asking others to join.  Remember, "perseverance is a community project".

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Hebrews 3:12-15

New King James Version

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but [a]

exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:

"Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."