Exhortation

“Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today.’” Hebrews 3:13. We ought to take this seriously to heart so that the daily oppor­tunities to exhort one another are not overlooked and forgotten. Words of exhortation are to be spoken in kindness (Proverbs 31:26), and if necessary, with tears. Acts 20:31. When we measure ourselves against such words, we become small in our own eyes. Having been called to be like Him whose “paths drip with abundance” (Psalm 65:11) gives us sufficient reason to be aware of our need. Paul ex­horted “every man” in order to present them perfect in Christ Jesus. Colossians 1:28. We have much to strive for, for he exhorts us to “be followers of me.” 1 Corinthians 4:16.

It is both necessary and important to exhort when speaking in a meeting, as well as privately. We are personally free from the reac­tions an exhortation can produce when it is given openly. Neverthe­less, our honor and our feelings must not be allowed to weaken the effect if we exhort privately. We need to stand before God’s face and in the love of Christ. How much and how often we exhort is deter­mined by the love of Christ that constrains us.

To exhort and admonish the unruly (1 Thessalonians 5:14) can be difficult, even though one can point to things that are obvious; yet it can go well if we do it in love, in goodness, and in wisdom. However, it can be more difficult to exhort someone who is not aware of any­thing wrong with himself. Paul writes in Philippians 4:2, “I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” This exhortation concerned something in their “mind,” and that was serious. We can assume that both of them were spiritual people, serving together with Paul, so they most likely had a good conscience, each in her respective state of mind.

There is only one mind in Christ. Philippians 2:5. It is of vital im­portance to partake of this one mind. Paul puts special emphasis on this in Philippians 2:2, “. . . by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” It is more serious not to be like-minded than to differ about outward things. Colossians 2:20. If this “one mind of Christ” does not rule, it shows a great lack of the love of Christ, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3:14. To be able to exhort in such cases requires spiritual maturity and wisdom in the situation, so the person concerned can see something that can be acknowledged. The oneness in the body of Christ will be affected if two people are exhorted, and neither of them can see anything in themselves that needs to be judged.

Sin is dead where I do not see any evil. Romans 7:8. Thus the basis for acknowledgment, and for receiving exhortation, is lacking. The ministry of exhortation in the church is extremely importantall of us are called to it. Hebrews 3:13. “And let us consider one an­other in order to stir up love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24. We must help others along by way of exhortation, so that none of them withdraw from their ministry in the church because they are dis­couraged, or because they think they have been left out. If anybody is otherwise minded in anything, we need to exhort him to remain in the fear of God so that he can get revelation from God. We need to watch and exhort, so that the devil does not get a chance to side­track sensitive souls by his cunning, causing them to fall prey to the deceitfulness of sin.

We cannot be exhorted enough to exercise ourselves in—and re­ceive grace for—the ministry of exhortation (Romans 12:8), so it can be carried out to the edification of the church.