Hebrews 3.12,13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 10.23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
One of the most abused and neglected means of personal growth in Christ is by the exhortation that comes from fellow saints. Note the urgency in these verses, dear ones. Note that those who neglect this pursuit of regular exhortation from fellow saints run into the danger of their heart being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Note also that those who neglect the pursuit of daily exhortation will inevitably form the habit of not regularly gathering together with other saints for worship, exhortation and prayer.
Truth be told, the vast majority of Christians are more concerned with living out their careers and hobbies on earth than they are gathering together in the white hot pursuit of faith in Christ. The pressures of the here and now have eclipsed the urgency of eternal things. We are more concerned about the size of our bank accounts than the health of our souls. We are forgetting that we are engaged in spiritual warfare against a foe that makes ISIS look like Mother Teresa. You would think the bible exhorted us TO forsake assembling together and love the world and the things thereof.
Pursuit of God with passion has been replaced by neglect and hardening with temporal preoccupations. The King is coming! The Day is at hand! Draw near to God, beloved. Seek real fellowship with other saints daily. Build one another up. Do not allow anything get between you and the necessary gathering together with saints for worship, instruction and prayer. Join me in fanning the flame of faith in one another. I certainly need it, and so do you.
