BE AN ENCOURAGER
Heb. 10:24 Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of
love and good deeds. NLT
When was the last
time you gave any thought at all to ways you can encourage others? Chances are this is not one of the things on
your list of priorities to do. If we do
encourage someone, it’s more of an accident than an intentional behavior. Let us take a few moments and think about
this today.
First of all, who do
you know that could use some encouragement today? Everyone needs it at various stages of life,
so it shouldn’t be hard to come up with someone. Give a name to someone you know who could use
some encouragement. Now, ask the Lord to
give some ideas on how to best encourage them.
Perhaps your someone
is going through some physical issue that is causing much anxiety for
them. Perhaps there is anxiety over
financial issues. Perhaps there are
marital issues going on. Maybe there are
relationship issues that need to be resolved.
Maybe there is frustration and discouragement over a lack of success
with goals being pursued in life.
Perhaps your someone is being criticized and not being treated well by
others. Whatever the issue, think about
ways that you might be able to do good and lighten the load on their shoulders.
Sometimes just being a
compassionate friend is enough.
Sometimes words spoken help.
Sometimes something we personally do is what is needed. Everyone needs to know that someone cares and
is there to support them in their journey of life. You cannot truly say you love someone until
you are willing to act it out.
Notice that we are to
be encouragers to outbursts of love and good deeds. Outbursts are spontaneous reactions. When we are motivated lovers of Christ it
generates outbursts of love and good deeds.
When we purposely set out to encourage others, we will always find ways
to do it. It should come naturally for
us. We cannot truly love Christ and it
not show in how we relate to one another.
The good news is that
when you are an encourager, you will be encouraged by the love of others in
your times of need for encouragement.
Godly love is characterized by being encouragers. It is simply getting involved in each other’s
lives and ministering to needs where needed.
Don’t just talk love talk; live it out for the glory of Christ.
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