Hebrews 3:13 | I Am Always Kind

0:00Okay, right out of the gate, I just want to acknowledge it. What we're talking about today is very simple. And, first glance, and my concern with talking about something so simple is that you and I might want to dismiss it because it's so basic. Which is why we're going to ask you to give this a second before you tune out. He in the Bible Hebrews chapter 3 verse 13 says, but exhort one another every day. As long as it is called today, then none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. We're talking about encouraging others and being kind to one another, and I know you've been told this a million times, you know, be nice. But the whole reason we've got to be told this so often is because being nice to everyone is not our default. Yeah, it's easy to love people who love you and encourage people who you agree with and get along with. But when it comes to forgiving someone who doesn't deserve forgiveness or choosing to be encouraging to someone who has anything but encouraging, we have to put an effort,

1:00which would be intentional. It doesn't come natural at all, but this is what God is calling us to. The part of the verse that for me really stands out, it's the end where it talks about how if we don't make these intentional efforts, we may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Without kindness, our hearts harden and hard hearts just aren't sensitive to sin. Hard hearts make excuses for judgmentalism rising up in us. Hard hearts become hateful and can't find themselves and themselves to forgive. If we want to be like Jesus, if we want to be examples of his love, we have to be kind to everyone.