Heb 3:13 But EXHORT one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

That word exhort means to be exhorting and comforting and encouraging and in this case it is speaking to believers. Have you lifted up your brother or sister today? I admit I often get frustrated when I see unbelievers treating their friends nicer than many brothers and sisters treat one another. Today had started on a down side. And yet I met with three other pastors for a time of prayer, and even on the way home I was struggling. I just could not seem to break loose from the thoughts of failing at some things. No one else ever goes through this, right?!?! And as a "leader" I always feel like I have to keep moving and stay with things and as mentioned the other day, one of my friends has been called out, and I am working hard not looking at the hole it leaves. So I came in and turned on the computer to read my email. Why not?

And wonder of wonders there was exhortation. And not so you think I am bragging, but may I share a few lines from some of the letters?

"Brother Lee, I will continue to pray that the Lord gives you the wisdom for sharing His Word to the lost and fresh manna to the saved. Our whole congregation prayed last Sunday for you to be spared from the storm. On the other side the Lord said "Didn't Israel become a Free Nation 50 yrs ago"? "Be prepared for Jubilee. Bondages will be broken and people will be set free". Be steadfast in prayer!!"

"Our walks are so much on the same page in God's economy. My place of employment is a blessing in that my boss is a Godly man who prays daily with me and is doing all he can to honor God with the company. I am continually led to share with him your daily writings, for the Lord is truly speaking directly to us through you to our ears."

There were some other cool ones like the lady who received a ticket, thanked God, took care of the problem only to have the policeman see her later and tear up the summons. I don't know about you, but I need to hear words of encouragement.

Heb 3:13
But EXHORT one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Let me take this apart a little. Lift one another up daily. Why? So our hearts aren't corrupted and allowed to take on sin, causing us to stumble. EVERY DAY!!!! Do you hear that? One of the reasons I do this letter is to exhort you to moving with the Lord. Its not too hard, trust me. You are not too immature or too stupid. Have you ever thought about this? The New Testament was written in a time of unrest and corruption in Rome(sounds like America, as well as many other parts of the world!), with all the problems of society(if you don't think so, look at what Paul was dealing with in the church of Corinth!) and still Christianity progressed. Think about this, what did the church of Jerusalem have to begin with. Jesus' word. The same word we have today. And many of the great things you see happening in the epistles happened only short years after the beginning of the church. They were living the New Testament, they were the successes. If they could do without a manual(the Bible-Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth!), you can do it. Some of you have been playing around the edges of Christianity, some of you have been saved for years and my question (God told me to ask!) is what are you doing with it? Many of the books of the New Testament were written within 25 years of Jesus' death, and there were some written shortly after His death. And yet churches like Antioch flourished in the midst of trial and persecution. The exhortation of one another needs to begin today, now! Your brothers and sisters need to hear the words that will make them free, delivering them from hardened hearts. There is too much apathy in much of the body of Christ. Comfort zones do not take faith to live in.

Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope: But hope that is seen, is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for what we see not, then with patience we wait for it. Let's go beyond the walls that protect us for that which keeps hurt out, keeps us trapped within. Someone you know needs a hug, a friendly word, and many of you have held back. I am not talking about ministry, I am talking about exhortation. Someone today needs a kind word in your life. Hey, maybe its you...and that which you sow, so shall you reap. So you want a hug, sow a hug. Need a kind word, sow some.