Encourage (Daily Encouragement Series)
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
About once a week during this pandemic I’ll get a call or text from my sister-in-law Lexi to the effect of “Hey B, just want to check in to make sure you guys are hanging in there.” And there is usually an encouragement that “it’s ok to not do all the things that you think you should be doing (or all the things everyone tells you you should be doing.), you guys are doing great.” It seems small, but it’s usually exactly what we need to be reminded of at the right time. And I know it’s not small because they are facing the same challenges we are – working from home, kids doing school, getting stir crazy, worry, people they know affected by the coronavirus, etc. It takes time and effort (which we are all lacking right now.)
What struck me in the passage from yesterday (2 Corinthians 7:2-16) was verse 5 where Paul was talking about being “afflicted”, “fighting without” (challenges in life) and “fear within” (internal anxiety). It was a great reminder that there are challenges for everyone in this life. What Paul received was “comfort” and “encouragement” from the church. And what Paul gave was “comfort” and “encouragement” to the church. It’s a two way street —> give and receive encouragement. Or as 1 Thessalonians 5:11 puts it “encourage ONE ANOTHER and build ONE ANOTHER up.”
From the sermon, we talked about 3 ways we can do this:
- Build Up and Encourage — Paul spoke powerful and encouraging words into their lives. “I have great pride in you.” “I am comforted by you.” “You are in our hearts.” “I have complete confidence in you.” Take time to tell people the good you see in them.
- Bring Comfort — When we are fearful and anxious (which is EXACTLY what we are), we don’t need a lecture, we need comfort. Particularly the God of comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Help people look up (instead of in and out). It will change our moment, day, and ultimately our life: The whole idea of the word is that one person is being with another, speaking words which change their mood and situation, giving them courage, new hope, new direction, new insights which will alter the way they face the next moment, the next day, the rest of their life. – NT Wright
- Protect One Another — when we are fearful and anxious we can look for “comfort” in things that seem like they will make it better, but ultimately will make it worse. We can believe lies about God and ourselves — who God says he is and who he says we are through Christ. Hebrews 3:13 says to “exhort (or encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Who is someone you can build up, comfort and protect this week (can’t be everybody, but can be somebody)?
Who is building you up, comforting and protecting you this week?