Encouragement

Hebrews 3:13 says we must encourage one another day after day after day.  The reason we encourage is to prevent hardness of heart.  The deceitfulness of sin works like concrete; it won’t get hard as long as it is being stirred, but when it sits still it hardens fast.  The remedy is for each one of us every day to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Whether we catch them painting a stairwell or visiting a shut-in or sharing the gospel or teaching Sunday school–whatever we see our brothers and sisters doing by faith we encourage them to keep up the good works, keeping away from a hardened heart.