If there are young people in your house, you probably either formally, or informally have House Rules. Principles that help maintain order, routine, and guidance for everyone within the household. The same goes for the Body of Christ. This House Rule – If it cries…love it, takes it context from II Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” He is the God of all comfort…extending mercy, love and encouragement to us in our times of crisis and pain. And in that, we learn how to pattern and demonstrate that same love to others.
Tag: words of encouragement
We’ve got to live: Keeping His Gospel in view.
What’s on your calendar this coming week? If it’s like most, you’ll be busy with meetings at work, kid’s sports practices and music lessons, and maybe some volunteer work. So my question to you is, how can you bring the Gospel into the center of your hectic week? The Lord has charged us with the duty of proclaiming the Gospel to others. (Romans 15:16) He also insists that we not be ashamed of declaring the Gospel. (Romans 1:16) So how can we bring God into the picture in a non-preachy way? Sometimes, it’s by what we not do. Our greatest impact for the Lord could be by not joining in the gossip mill at work…by not degrading co-workers or referees, or by not using bad language in front of children. By simply encouraging others rather than discouraging them, you’ll be speaking the Gospel Message loud and clear.
Matthew 6:25 ” Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life…”
How much time do I squander away worrying? I’d hate to count up the minutes I spend stressing over the most stupid things…worse case scenarios that 99.9% of the time never happen. Rather than worrying, we should be worshiping…rather than glorifying our anxiety, we should be exalting the Lord. For God has kept His promises to us in the past…and He’s not going to stop now.
Philemon 7 ” Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. “
What happens when you encourage someone? They hear those words of inspiration and their spirit is renewed and energized. And as their spirit is lifted, that encouragement gives them the courage to persevere through the challenges they face. Never refuse the chance to encourage someone…it may be the one word they need to hang on.
Romans 15: 32 ” So that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.”
When we come together as God’s family, my spirit and yours are refreshed. (I Cor. 16:18) The Lord has opportunity to minster through you and me to touch others with encouragement when we meet together. He can also move corporately throughout to refresh…exhorting, inspiring, and spurring on. But when you decide not to go to Church or Bible Study or Prayer Group for selfish reasons, you are denying others the blessing of giving and receiving hope and inspiration through your absence. Never believe that you don’t matter in the Family of God, for you are a very important and intricate part of the spiritual community called the Body.
Proverbs 11:25 ” A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Everyone can use encouragement…everyone likes words of appreciation. This week I was explaining to a group of ladies the purpose of this Devotional. Over 4 years ago, the Lord challenged me to become a modern-day Barnabas…an encourager of others. And in today’s world of negativity – I would challenge you also to become that man or woman of God that strengthens those around you…renewing souls with encouragement and gratitude…reviving and renewing those who are discouraged and down-trodden. A kind word could be life changing to someone around you today….resolve to be a Barnabas.
Romans 1:11-12 ” I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
There’s no way around it…we all need to be around fellow Believers. There’s nothing like being with like-minded Christians…sharing, listening, and bearing each others burdens in prayer. All of us need encouragement and our faith strengthened by interacting with other Believers…we all need to hear how God is moving in other’s lives. As it says in Proverbs 27:17, ” As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Think of it…something the Lord has brought you through is exactly what someone needs to hear today.
Romans 1: 11-12 ” I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith.”
When you and another Believer meet, you have much more in common than you think, even if it’s a chance meeting in the grocery store. You share the mutual faith in Jesus Christ and are both part of the community of Believers. So your interaction now becomes inspired, giving hope and confidence to one another, and boosting each others faith.
Acts 13: 15 ” Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
Paul and Barnabas had traveled to Pisidian Antioch and were in the Synagogue on the Sabbath when the Synagogue Leaders invited them to speak. The greatest words of encouragement you can give anyone is the Gospel message, and Paul did that, by telling them the Good News…that Jesus had died for their sins so they could have eternal life. To share the Gospel with others is the ultimate word of encouragement.
John 14: 12 ” I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
So what are these “things” we are to be doing? Jesus spoke healing into sick bodies, He spoke words of encouragement into the brokenhearted, He spoke admonishment into the prideful and stubborn….but most of all, Jesus spoke the hidden potential…the secret treasures into the lives of the lost. But it doesn’t stop there…He says that we are to do GREATER things than these, because He has returned to the right hand of the Father to intercede on our behalf. And when we pray in the name of Jesus, whatever is in keeping with His character and purpose will happen.
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