Ex-hort: verb – strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.
Exhort is one of those interesting words we find in Scripture. We read it regularly, but almost never use it. Seriously, when was the last time you used the word “exhort” in a conversation? Probably around the last time you used the word “behold.”
Yet, when we read the Bible, Paul gives exhortations all the time. The writer of Hebrews is no different. In Hebrews 3, the author exhorts us to be in the habit of exhorting one another.
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
Hebrews 3:12-14 (ESV)
We are to urge one another on in Christlikeness. We are to strongly encourage one another to help us avoid veering off the path Christ has laid out for us. And we are to do it every single day.
Is it just me, or is that not very American?
As we grow up in a culture that cultivates individual autonomy and idolizes strongly values independence, we are generally not keen for people to hold our feet to the fire when we are just doing what we want to do, no matter what direction we are heading. In other words, not only is the receiving of this kind of exhortation counter-cultural for us, giving exhortation just might be counter-cultural as well. This method of growing in our walk with Christ won’t come naturally.
We are going to have to do this on purpose.
The question becomes – What can you do to exhort others today?
And, how will you handle it if someone exhorts you?
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