HRC New Testament Reading Plan: daily NT reading devotional thoughts.
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:12-13 NIV
Are you making sure your brothers and sisters are encouraged?
The author begins his second exhortation in Hebrews 3: Make every effort to help your brothers and sisters stay faithful!
The chapter begins by showing how Jesus is superior to Moses, in the same way as the builder of the house is superior to a faithful servant in the house. He then quotes Psalm 95, which itself refers back to a story in Exodus 17 where the Israelites quarreled (“Meribah”) with Moses about needing water, and tested (“Massah”) God by their unbelief. They named the place Meribah and Massah so that they wouldn’t forget the event. The psalmist reminds them in Psalm 95, and the Hebrew author reminds them again here. As long as it is called “Today”, we need to “see to it” that we don’t turn to unbelief and away from God.
How can we help each other to not turn to unbelief? The author tells us that we need to encourage one another, and we should do that on any day we refer to as “Today”. The consequence of turning to unbelief was God’s anger resulting in Him making an oath: they would never enter His rest. They wandered forty years in the desert instead of entering into the land that God promised them (more on that in the next chapter). The lesson for us is that we should see that our brothers and sisters are encouraged so that they don’t wander in a spiritual desert and turn to unbelief.
Questions:
- Read Exodus 17:1-7 and Psalm 95:8-11. Take time to read these passages and meditate on why these passages warn us to “not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:8). Also, think about God’s response “why I was angry with that generation” (3:10). What does this tell you about God’s feeling toward unbelief?
- What does the author say we need to do to “see to it… that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart”? (Hint: see vv. 13 and 14).
- What are some ways you complain (or quarrel and test) God about things you need and want? What can you do instead of complaining?
- How can you encourage others? Find a few ways to encourage your brothers and sisters, and “see to it” that you do them “Today”.