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Our primary reason to encourage one another is Christ and all He has done for us, as the author of Hebrews lays out not only in the first eighteen verses of chapter ten, but also throughout most of the book. Christ is our High Priest and the Sacrificial Lamb. By faith in Him, we are cleansed of guilt, made pure, and can draw near to God in full assurance of faith. That is incredible! Our changed lives motivate us to encourage others. We have received so much, we can consider others.
That's reason enough to encourage one another, but Hebrews 10:19-25 offers an additional motivation:
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Christ is coming again. "The Day" is approaching. God has fulfilled all of the promises he made in the Old Testament in Christ. Christ promised He will come again, not as the Lamb but as Judge, and that as that time draws near, difficulty and persecution will increase for His people. We must encourage one another. I would also add that we need encouragement because - no matter how near or far "the Day" is - life is inherently difficult. Life is tough. We all need encouragement.
In the hustle and bustle of life we easily forget that the Day is approaching and we forget to consider others. When life is marching along comfortably we forget the Day is approaching and we forget to consider others. As trials and tribulations press in on us we forget the Day is approaching and we forget to consider others. I think you're starting to get the picture I'm trying to paint here: We have great reasons to encourage one another, but so many things can distract us.
Hopefully this series will challenge us to move beyond ourselves because the Lord went far beyond Himself to reach us and give us life. Moving forward we will be considering who, when, and where we can encourage. Then we will get into how, and get some ideas of how to become Christians who encourage one another.
Peace be with you as you ponder these reasons we have to consider other and encourage them: Christ's love and work for us, the Day approaching, and the fact that life is hard and encouragement is so desperately needed.
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