Who doesn’t like getting an encouraging card
in the mail? Or a unexpected phone call from a old friend, to check in and see
how you’re doing, not for any special reason, just because they care about YOU!
We all like hearing words of encouragement, words that speak life
and hope into the dark corners of our lives .Are we all called to encourage one
another, or is that just a spiritual gift that some are given and others do not.
Well let us look to see what the scriptures say before we go any further into
this topic.
Lets first look at
Hebrews 10:23-25 and read that passage together.{ESV} Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Let
us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works not neglecting to
meet together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another
all the more so as you see the day drawing near.
Love completes a
familiar triad with faith and hope, they all 3 interlock with one another.
Christ is love and we are created in his image to show the love of Christ, so
when we show love to others, by encouraging them, we are giving them the Hope
that we in turn have received from Jesus.
Therefore, when you encourage
others, you are being an image of Christ to them. When others look at us they should be able to
see Christ in us. In our actions, and our words that we speak .Encouragement is
not just for those with a spiritual gift, encouragement is more than just
saying” job well done, or you will get through this, that’s part of the picture
, but not the entire picture, like Hebrews points out that as Christian brothers and sisters we encourage one another in our spiritual
walk, spurring each other on to grow and
mature in our faith.
My mom has set the example of what being a encourager
is. always reaching out to the hurting to the broken and the lonely, she has
set a example for me to follow and I thank
her for that, she has instilled in me the value of the spoken word, how it edifies
and uplifts a crushed and broken spirit, Even times when she has been going
through her own pain, emotionally or physically, she reaches out without hesitation
to offer words of encouragement. God has given me a gift of encouragement, and
a heart to reach hurting people; I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus,
sharing the hope that I have to those who feel hopeless!
Over the years, ive met a lot of encouragers, my best friend
jean is another one who always reaches out with such heartfelt love and
compassion to those in her life and even those she does not know.
There have been times though that ive had conversations with
some Christian friends and they said to me” I don’t have the gift that you do
more so and so does, I can’t encourage others, I told them its not something we are asked to do.
ITS a COMMAND in
God’s word for every Christ
follower to do: we all have someone in our lives that we can take under our
wing or reach out to and encourage them. pray and ask Jesus for his eyes, his perspective
to see the lost and hurting people ask
for opportunities to share Gods love in tangible ways and God will show
you. He will open doors for you to speak love into
others lives.
Here is a quote I found that talks about encouragement.”Instead
of giving myself reasons why i can’t give give myself reasons why I can” In today’s society so many are wrapped up in their own
life, their own struggles and cant step out long enough to feel another’s pain,
but isn’t that what we are told to do, we are suppose to show the world LOVE
and part of love is putting aside our own agenda and getting our hands dirty
and coming alongside the hurting and crying with them and rejoicing with them as the scriptures tell us
to do.
Encouragement is
vital to the Christian faith, striving to be Christ like is not always easy,
but its part of taking up our cross and following him in his footsteps, going
where he goes, reaching those who he reaches. A good example of a encourager in
the bible is Barnabus, his name means encourager, lets follow in his footsteps.
In fallen, broken, and sinful world as we live in, we need Godly people to
speak truth into our lives, into the areas where we need to mature and grow.
It’s not easy walking this journey called
life, but when we have brothers and sisters in Christ who are investing in us , praying on our behalf, holding us
accountable and letting us know when we do a good job, and lovingly giving us
constructive criticism, and being a
shoulder to cry on when the trails come, that’s what true encouragement is.
Not being afraid to get involved in their life,
its not just giving a pat answer, or dishing out a bunch of scriptures and
advice, it’s part of it, but its listening, its praying with them its writing a
letter or email to someone and taking the time to invest in words that speak
genuine love. At times we may feel like Jesus does not hear our prayers and we
may feel alone, but sometimes the way God speaks is through others, through
their prayers over us, through edifying words to speak love and truth and hope
to us.
We are all different
with different gifts and yes, some may have a gift for writing words that speak
deeply, but all it takes is a short note to say im thinking about you and
lifting you and your circumstances up before our Lord, could be a phone call or
even a short talk over a cup of coffee. Let God use you, be open to the fact he may want to take you out of your
comfort zone and watch how he blesses you, when you are willing to be the hands
and feet of Jesus!
Remember every weakness you have is a opportunity
for God to show his strength in your life, and then in turn you can use that
struggle to help others on this journey.
