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PROGRAM D-8190
The final “one another” I want to share is this one—and it’s so critical! Encourage one another.
Hebrews 3:13 says we are to “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
In Hebrews 10:24-25, we read this:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of encouragement, and how desperately we all need to be intentionally and daily encouraging other people. These passages teach us that encouragement is important to help our fellow believers avoid sin—and we are to do this daily, because time is short.
Imagine if every Christ-follower started every day with the intention of encouraging other people. They could be family members, like your children or your mate. They could be co-workers. They could be strangers you interact with as you shop.
We encourage others with words of sincere praise, compliments on work well done, and words that help others see and reach their potential. There are so many ways to encourage someone—it’s absolutely amazing how powerful encouragement is!
My friend was a teacher in Chicago public schools, and she tells of one student who was simply a trouble-maker and no amount of discipline was helping. Finally, one day she asked him to do a simple thing for her and, when he did it, she poured the praise and thanks on him. She said he was a different boy from that day onward, always looking for things he could do for her in order to please her. One simple act of intentional encouragement was life-changing for this one boy.
Whose life could you touch today with some encouragement? Look for that person. Ask God to show you that person, and then become God’s instrument of love and peace as you offer sincere encouragement.