Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
(Hebrews 3:12-13 NLT)
If a watchman blows his trumpet will you not listen, for surely the sound warns us to be on guard against attacks from our enemy. And if we have been assigned to be that watchman do we not take our position seriously because of the people who depend on us and because of the One who gave us the orders? Then why do we forget what the preacher said as we roll out of bed Monday morning, why do we not let his words impact our lives like they should? When we see a brother fall why do we sit quietly by without saying a word or better yet why do we condemn, affectively kicking him when he is down? Could it be these actions point to the fact that we have not listened to what has been said or understood who has said it? However, if our conversations are centered on Christ Jesus and His teachings and if we are quick to warn, in love, when we see our brother has fallen, then the opposite must be true. For how do we know the signs of the spirit unless we have been born of the Spirit?
What motivates us is very important, two people can respond similarly in actions and words but only one reap the blessings given from heaven above because of their motivation. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us even if we could do everything right, even to the point of giving our own lives, if it is done without love we gain nothing. Don’t rush in with an answer until you listen, know God’s Word and don’t allow yourself to be derailed from what the Holy Spirit would have you say but don’t assume you know what is going on until you ask the person you are about to confront and getting information from a third party does not provide you opportunity to express yourself. Instead help them to see what harm has been done and ask questions that cause them to take ownership and lead them to resolution and restoration. Don’t push or pull but let them discover, through your questioning the pitfall of their actions. Finally support them, if possible let them know you understand how they feel because you have felt the same way and then share with them what you have found to be the answer. By doing this you have taken your coat and put on their shoulders and you have walked with them until they were able to see God’s light and feel His warmth. If we really care this is not too much to ask and if we understand our own situation we realize someone has done the same for us.
But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God's entire house. And we are God's house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ [faithful to the end].
(Hebrews 3:6 NLT)
