Sip Saturday

Week #45 Hebrews 3:13

**Sip Saturday is written by our Saturday morning contributor, M.H. Elrich. A beautifully gifted Christian author who seeks to honor the Trinity in her writing. She hopes that her words will encourage women to draw closer to God, whether that is through her fantasy series or her weekly devotionals.

Cornerstone Scripture:

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

-Hebrews 3:13 KJV

“I want to help, but Sam keeps asking me to stay in his classroom,” the teacher’s assistant complained.

“What do you mean? I didn’t think that was your job?” I questioned.

“I’m supposed to monitor Johnny as he goes from class to class,” the assistant admitted.

“Have you tried talking to Sam?”

The assistant shook her head.

I frowned. We were all Christians and had multiple discussions about how, as fellow believers, we were called to go to someone directly when we had a problem with them. I bit my bottom lip. I didn’t want to confront this teacher. I just wanted to close my eyes and wish the problem away. But then another co-worker talked to me.

“I had a really tough day,” she began.

“Really, what happened?”

“Well, because the teacher’s assistant wasn’t there, I had fewer people monitoring the game, and Johnny began arguing with me. I tried to de-escalate the situation, but then…”

“Let me guess, it spiraled out of control?”

My co-worker nodded.

Everything was getting worse. Another person complained to me about Sam hogging the assistant. Now not one, but three co-workers were complaining.

I had enough. After prayer, I went to talk to Sam. I found out that he had his reasons for needing the assistant, but I reminded him that this aide was not his and was assigned to monitor Johnny. I was shaking the entire time, and I don’t think my co-worker was happy with what I said. Nevertheless, the co-worker permitted the aide to leave and help the others in the department. Eventually, the dynamic in the department resumed.

This was the first time of many that God called me out of my comfort zone to confront someone about something wrong. I hated it every time, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

According to Merriam-Webster, to exhort means to “urge strongly.” Thinking of this particular context in Hebrews, it would mean to urge strongly not to sin. I think too many of us, like myself, don’t want to do this. We would rather be peacemakers to the point of ignoring the sin growing among our loved ones. Or perhaps we think that not telling the truth about someone’s sin is “loving.”

It’s not loving to ignore sin. It’s not wise to let it grow and fester. Because if we leave it alone in order to “keep the peace,” we may eventually begin to tolerate it until our hearts are hardened to the reality of that sin. That’s what the author of Hebrews is trying to show here: that ignoring sin and not urging someone strongly to stop is unfruitful and ultimately detrimental for everyone. It can be hard to speak up, but it’s the right thing to do.

Let’s pray.

Dear Lord, please give me wisdom to know when to speak the truth with love. Help me to have the courage to confront sin when I see it, and to do the right thing even when it’s hard. In Your Son’s Name, Amen.