Exhort One Another Daily
(Exhortation - May 2002)
The writer to the Hebrews cautioned not to “forsake 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” (Heb. 10:25). Meeting with our brothers and sisters on a Sunday morning can be very refreshing. Life can get us down sometimes. Being here with those of like precious faith can help us overcome the things that bother us. It can give us a new perspective on life and remind us that we are not alone in our struggles. We find comfort being among friends who share our beliefs.
It is significant that the word comfort in the New Testament is usually translated from the Greek word paraklesis that can also be translated “consolation, exhortation or encouragement.” Paraklesis is from two words meaning to come along side, and that’s part of the comfort we find here, coming along side our brothers and sisters, sharing the comfort that comes from knowing God and being in Christ. There is also a tranquillising effect in leaving the turmoil of our hectic lives and being able to just sit and contemplate for an hour or so. The experience is one of enrichment as we feast upon spiritual things. We come together around the Lord’s table and break bread in memory of the Lord Jesus Christ, uniting our prayers of praise and thanksgiving to the Creator of heaven and earth, the God of Israel, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This appointed assembly on the first day of the week is also an occasion for renewing the spiritual strength that we need, not only in the conflict against the evil that surrounds us in our daily lives but also against self. The combination of both of these aspects can be overwhelming.
Reviewing the past
We complete the edifying, comforting and purifying power of our meeting
together by making it an occasion of self-examination. Let us take the
interval since our last breaking of bread as the basis for this process.
Undoubtedly these will have been six days of battling self and the things
which influence us in this world of spiritual darkness. Six days which have
slipped away into history never to return. Any feeling of discomfort that
this may produce is enhanced by the thought that there will soon come a time
when our whole life will lie behind at the judgement seat. The account will
then be closed and the die cast, pending the Lord’s decision. Our present
review is a useful exercise in helping us to assess and thereby make the
necessary changes.
Probably for each individual the behaviour of the past six days, in relation to the expectations of our Lord, has been disappointing. While we are encumbered with human nature our daily actions can never be entirely what we desire. Failure to recognize this fact may lead us to abandon our efforts in despair, feeling that we will never be good enough to enter the kingdom.
Consolation in forgiveness
Paul identified the problem: “For I know that in me (that is,
in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing…I see another law in my members, warring
against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin
which is in my members” (Rom. 7:18, 23). However hard he had tried he
could not bring his flesh into subjection; it was very confusing and
frustrating: “for what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will
to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do” (Rom. 7:15
NKJ).
In common with the apostle we experience an inner conflict. Longing to be Christ-like, we find it hard to do the things we know to be right, yet readily do things that are displeasing to God, thereby being left with a sense of wretchedness. Yet Paul looked forward to the prospect of deliverance through the Lord Jesus Christ; this should be our consolation. So long as we reject our nature, and the sin that it produces, we will not be held responsible for it, providing we are truly repentant. We will obtain forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ: “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more…Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest…” (Heb. 10:17,19).
Contrasting personalities
Both Peter and Judas failed their Lord through
weakness of the flesh: the one by denial, the other by betrayal. Knowing
his contrition, Christ prayed for Peter and he was forgiven, whereas the son
of perdition rejected the antitypical mercy seat and killed himself.
As Peter demonstrated throughout his life, discipleship is an uphill battle. How are we to overcome our trials and temptations? The answer is clear: “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4).
Yet from where does this faith come? Again we turn to the Bible for enlightenment: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). So the most valuable advice for anyone overwhelmed by the difficulties of life is to renew the Bible reading goal.
It is all too easy to relapse from the daily reading of the scriptures. The momentum of life seems to be increasing and there is so little time to accomplish the tasks set before us. The needs of a growing family, pressures in the work place, the mountain of books demanding attention prior to the writing of an examination, all make monumental demands upon our time. Yet a little reflection will show that the old maxim is true: “One can always find time to do the things one really wants to do.” If we are honest with ourselves, how often do we miss our favourite television show or forego an invitation out to dinner due to lack of time? We must cultivate the habit of reserving time for the word of God. If we “desire the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby” (I Pet. 2:2), we will learn not to brood over wrongs committed and the omission of lost opportunities, trusting that: “if we walk in the light…the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7).
Doctrine and behaviour
There are many in the world who, professing Christianity,
miss the Way, supposing religion to consist of a set of doctrines only.
Doctrines, in their place, are indispensable but there are other
considerations. In his instruction to Titus, Paul showed that the believer
of Christ should actually “adorn” himself with the doctrine (or
teaching) of Christ: “Showing all fidelity; that they may adorn the
doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Tit. 2:10). Doctrine should
not be used as an outward show, but must transform our hearts. We come to
understand that it is through grace that we are saved, not by adhering to
doctrine alone. This wonderful fact should help us in our efforts to live a
more godly life:
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Tit. 2:11-14).
If we focus on the mortality of man and the coming of Christ, while ignoring the instruction, “be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘be holy, for I am holy,’” we will find our right doctrine of little profit. Likewise it is wrong to concentrate upon good Christian living while ignoring the clear doctrines of scripture. It is all a matter of balance.
Renewed opportunity
Nowhere can a better balance be found than in the life of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Bearing our nature, he submitted to the teaching and will of his
Father, thereby obtaining strength to overcome sin. Two thousand years
later in obedience to his command, a small group of us meet to remember him
in the partaking of bread and wine. Having stepped aside from the anxiety
and turmoil of the world, it is here in the bonds of the truth that we can
find solace and strength to face our trials and temptations: “Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth
in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is
everlasting strength” (Isa. 26:3,4).
Although it is impossible to recall or alter the six days that are gone, all is not lost. If it is the Lord’s good pleasure, there will be a further six days to come, six days that are ours to use and to make of them what we desire. Let us resolve to greet each day with the sentiment of the psalmist, “This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). Daily let us also heed Paul’s exhortation, always striving “to present ourselves approved to God, workers who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15).
Walter Cairns