Praise Is the Key to Kicking Satan Out

Hebrews 3:13

The author of the letter to the Hebrews gives us a sort of "final call" by saying, "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today', that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

This is really good stuff. You ready? Let's go. "But exhort one another every day." The word exhort means to give praise to, or encourage. The author is telling us that encouraging, loving, and uplifting our brothers and sisters is something that is considered very important. "as long as it is called today..." Right here the author is referring to the end of history, or, "Judgement Day." He is saying that we need to start showing more love and encouraging each other before times runs out here. "...that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." By encouraging others and showing love to them, it will give them another reason not to fall into the temptations of Satan. If we are constantly encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ, then there is no room for Satan to come in and mess things up.

What is the author trying to tell us here? The same thing we've been hearing in Roman's a lot: by constant encouragement and love, Satan cannot make his way into the hearts of believers. We need to be always uplifting each other so that we all feel loved. That is Satan's lie, isn't it? He tells us that we're not loved and that God has forgotten us. But if we are always showing love on our fellow believers, then they won't believe Satan's lie! How can you believe one false lie from Satan when you have hundreds of believers showing love on you? It cancels him out. So let's start encouraging and loving our brothers and sisters in order to keep Satan OUT.