"Exhorted to Mutual Exhortation" Hebrews 3:12&13, Psalm 95
In the Old Testament, Israel's behavior after being delivered was despicable. Hardened hearts, striving and testing the Lord after being delivered with 10 amazing plagues being done...murmuring against the Lord, etc. The provocation of the church is used and laid on our footsteps as the New Testament church. He speaks regarding the house (the church) and the building of it! No man is an island and we have each other to help in our sanctifying, in our families, our relationships, and our church!
Starting with Israel He admonishes the church to "take heed!" We live the old testament picture and take hold of those things as the church of the new testament and in the house of God the voice of Father pertains! As Moses spoke to the old testament church he spoke of a greater voice. The voice of God as it is the Word of God to us in the new dispensation. Take heed that you exhort one another with that voice as they stand together with one another!
Doesn't this stand to reason within the body of Christ and the House of God?! We havea mutual care for SPIRITUAL well-being. "Lest any man 1 there be a hardened unbelief to depart for the truth and 2 lest we be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin and leave or forsake that Word!" (vs 12) Sin is VERY deceitful and departure from the Lord begins in small ways...growing and growing towards departure from the Word. What does sin say to you? To me? It says "it's not that bad" and it always testifies AGAINST the VOICE! Some have said it is like the cholesterol in your arteries beginning out small until it chokes completely! Don't put off tomorrow what you can do today-that applies to our daily living! We excuse ourselves and put it off....take care of it TODAY! Read verse 13. We stand TOGETHER and we need to commune with ourselves and together...with ourselves and then to those close to us, to and through the church! All our neighbors and let's help them walk in the fellowship of the Word!
Should we let others walk in sin and away from a sanctified walk with God? When we let exhortation and a mutual caring and exhorting in the Word of God to one another we will find blessing as we walk together in the Word and in a sanctified life!