Suffering Kind Words

“And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.” (Heb 13:22 AV)

This instruction seems a little odd.  If we understand exhortation to be encouragement, then why would we have to suffer it.  Actually, exhortation means a little more than simply encouragement.  Exhortation does not necessarily mean comfort.  It means to implore another to do right.  It is hard to suffer because it goes against our pride.  We are reproved and rebuked.  Then we are encouraged to change.  All three are an assault on our individualism and pride.  To suffer a word of exhortation means to listen to, to heed, and to apply change to our heart.  Specially when our flesh really doesn’t desire to do so.

A funny thing happens when we grow into adulthood.  We begin to think we can master anything we set our minds to and if another offers help in an area which we feel proficient, we ignore the advice no matter how helpful it might be.  My wife and I are not official empty-nesters.  It’s wonderful.  Almost.  What I have noticed is without children or a dog to watch over, all of a sudden, we have opinions on how the other should accomplish a task at hand.  Even our driving does not go without comment.  Whether it is me driving or my lovely bride, the passenger has bits of advice that might make the trip a little less stressful.  It is particularly troublesome when we have our minds already set towards a course of action, and in mid-course, the other offers a suggestion that changes the plan.  Whether right or wrong, it is bothersome to consider, for it interrupts a well thought out plan.  We are beginning to laugh at this.  At least I am anyway.  It is what makes this stage of life enjoyable.  The point is, when a course correction is offered, it is usually good advice.  Humility is what gets us through it.

The LORD sends several messengers of exhortation.  The Holy Spirit, by the word of God, is the primary one.  His ministry is perhaps the easiest to endure because it is the LORD and only the LORD who is exhorting.  However, what the writer is challenging his readers to do is to suffer the exhortation offered by another human being.  Be it a spouse, teacher, parent, employer, or preacher, God uses human agents to be a word of exhortation.  He will use those who can objectively observe our situation and encourage us to change course lest we end up where we really didn’t want to go in the first place.  Suffer those words of exhortation.  Swallow the pride that would close our ears.  For the Hebrew, it meant eternal life.  For the saint, it means pleasing the LORD more and more as we seek to walk with Him on a daily basis.