Encourager

Are you an encourager? Do you build others up? Do you give them a word of encouragement to achieve their goals? Do you spur others on to new heights? Do you give them the heart to keep pushing through when things get tough? Do you strengthen their resolve?

Being a person of encouragement comes naturally to some people. Not so much for others. Those who are encouragers boost those around them. They increase the energy of those who are running slow. The encourager restores the belief another has lost.

Encouragement can be the difference between success and failure. I remember running my first marathon. About mile fourteen my legs started cramping. It was my fault. I drank too much water the day before so I would be hydrated and thereby flushed all the electrolytes out of my system. Needless to say, I did not make that mistake the next year.

But there were people along the route who kept encouraging me and the other runners to keep going. It was tough. I had to walk some, massage the muscles, and run again. I finished the twenty-six plus miles. I don’t know if I would have without the encouragement along the way.

We can encourage one another to continue going during our dark times. We can encourage one another to hold on to our faith when we are tempted to walk away. We can encourage others to come to faith in Jesus Christ through both words and actions.

Encouragement is a gift of the spirit. We can all encourage at some level. But there are some who have an extra helping of the gift of encouragement from the Holy Spirit. Those folks are special. They are the energy and motivation factor for those of us running the race.

I pray we all encourage others to hold on to their faith. I pray we encourage others to come to faith in Jesus. I pray each one of us truly appreciate those who are gifted with encouragement. Be an encourager. Appreciate encouragers. Encourage one another. Encourage others to come to faith.

Acts 15:30-33 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.

Hospitality

How hospitable are you? Do you welcome others into your house? Would you invite a family member to stay with you? Are you willing to host family members for several days, weeks, or even months? Would you do so for a fellow Christian?

Being hospitable comes naturally for some of us, while it is a significant challenge for others. Maybe we should first describe hospitality. It is not throwing a party but inviting someone in as though they were family. It is opening your home to host and care for them.

Hospitality was a key trait of the Hebrews of the Old Testament. It continued to be key to the early Christians. It was expected of a Christian to welcome any other Christian into their home, especially if it was a travelling apostle, preacher, teacher, or messenger. The host would provide a place to sleep, meals, and information about the local area.

Being hospitable comes from the spiritual gifts of giving, helping, and serving. All of them contribute to being hospitable. We may be especially gifted with these gifts. We may not. If we are not, we can ask God to gift us with them. Desiring to have these gifts is key to us acquiring them. God is willing to gift us to better serve one another.

Even if we are not gifted with these spiritual gifts, we can work toward being hospitable. We can train ourselves to be hospitable. It often means overcoming fear and anxiety, but we can ask God for that as well. Our challenge is to desire to be hospitable to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I pray we all desire to be hospitable. I pray we ask God for the spiritual gifts to be hospitable. I pray each one of us will welcome our brothers and sisters in Christ with the love of Christ. Ask God to make you hospitable. Ask for the spiritual gifts of giving, helping, and serving. Desire to be hospitable. Welcome your brothers and sisters.

Hebrews 13:1-3 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

In Sync With God

Why do you do what you do? What is your reason for going about your daily tasks? Is there a motivating factor that spurs you on? Can you define what it is that causes you to work hard? Are you doing everything for the glory of God?

We all have a reason for going about our daily lives. Sometimes it is a goal we are working toward. Sometimes we cannot put our finger on it, and it may seem we are simply muddling along with no goal nor a significant reason.

Let me make a confession. I am not a person who typically creates a five-year or ten-year plan with a goal in mind. Sure, I set goals. But I have never been one to plan in great detail how to reach those goals. What I have done is identify two or three smaller goals as steppingstones toward the larger goal. Though I have not always been a Christian, I have always trusted God to reward me for my work.

But trusting God to reward us for our work is different than working for his glory. What is the difference? The first viewpoint means we are working for ourselves. The second means we are working for God. I can be a store clerk and be working for God. I can complete all my tasks as though they were for God (and they are when he is the reason). How is this for God? When we have a smile on our face, a joyous attitude, and work hard, people want to know why. That opens the door for us to tell them about God.

When our whole purpose in life is to glorify God, everything we do becomes better. Glorifying him is not window dressing, but an internal change of heart. When our heart is in sync with God’s heart, we serve him and serve others.

I pray we all evaluate our reasons for going about our daily lives. I pray we stop living for ourselves and start living for God. I pray each one of us puts our heart in sync with God’s. Make God the reason for living. Make getting your heart in sync with God’s your goal. Do everything for God’s glory. Serve God. Serve others.

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Given a Trust

Are you a person who carries out requirements? When given a task, can you be counted on to complete it according to directions? Do you faithfully adhere to the specifications you are given? Are you carrying out the task given to you by God?

We are tasked with completing a variety of tasks in our daily work. Depending on your specific job, you may be carrying out hundreds of tasks a day. Your tasks may be as varied as the rainbow. You may become very good at multitasking.

I know our jobs can be complex, require a variety of skills, and require diligence. As a pastor, I must read Scripture, commentaries, and other educational books. I must oversee the maintenance of a building, worship services, committee meetings, and other employees. I must ensure administrative tasks are completed, visit members in the hospital and nursing homes, and provide oversight of finances. When all of these are done, I am to provide a vision for outreach into our community and grow the church. I understand how complex a job can be.

We all have one job in common. We have all been given a trust—the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is a trust? Think of a trust fund left to an heir. It is invested to grow and provide an income to the recipient. The same is true of the gospel. It is to grow in each of us. We are to use the growth to plant the gospel in others.

The trust also provides an income. In the case of the gospel, the income in an abundant life. Our lives become better the more we know and the deeper we delve into the gospel. As we understand Jesus’ commands, His teachings, and His example, our lives improve. We gain in peace, love, and joy.

I pray we all care for the trust we have been given. I pray we invest it wherever and in whomever we can. I pray each one of us delves deeper into the gospel to see an improvement in our lives. Know that you have been given a trust. Grow in your understanding of the gospel. Plant seeds. Invest in the gospel. Improve your life. Live the abundant life.

1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Good Reputation

Do you desire to stand out? Do you like to have people point at you and say, “she is a wonderful person”? Have you thought about it? Have you taken steps to make it a reality? Do you know what steps you need to take?

Even if we are not a person who seeks the spotlight, we often desire a good reputation. We want people to say what a wonderful person we are. We may even want our great personality pointed out publicly. And too often we do not work at making it a reality.

What must we do to cause people to say good things about our personality? First, we must work at it. We must recognize we are broken—all of us. We are born into a sinful world. We are inundated with sinful examples of behavior. To become a person with a reputation of being cheerful, thoughtful, and generally good requires us to make a conscious effort toward that goal every day.

The Apostle Paul tells us to stop our grumbling. Well, that is not easy! Take inventory of the number of times you grumble in a day. We complain about the weather. We complain about our jobs. We complain about our siblings. We complain about our spouses. We complain about our parents. We complain about just about everything. To stop grumbling means we must change our attitude and outlook on life.

He goes on to say we must stop arguing. Now, do not mistake that for rolling over and allowing others to mistreat you. We can have healthy debate. In fact, healthy debate is something our culture has lost over the past twenty or so years. But arguing for argument’s sake should not be done. That is being a contrarian. That is simply looking for a fight.

I pray we all stop our grumbling. I pray we exchange arguing for healthy debate. I pray each one of us seek to change our attitude and outlook on life, seeking to be a person others point out as good. Seek a good reputation. Seek a change of attitude. Commit to working at it. Stop grumbling. Stop arguing. Have healthy debate. Be a star. Hold to the word of life.

Philippians 2:14-16 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

Attitude of Sharing

How well do you share? Are you willing to help those in need? Are you willing to host others? Does sharing mean only giving any extra you may have? Does helping those in need mean only giving away your old and used items?

Some of us were taught to share as young children. Some were allowed to be selfish. But all can learn to share with others. It is a change of our attitude. There is no physical ability required nor special talent. It is all about our mindset—an attitude of scarcity or abundance.

As a child, I grew up poor. I didn’t really know it. It was not until I became an adult, heard some of my mother’s stories, and realized the challenges of supporting a family that I understood. But there was one thing I learned as a child from my mother and grandmother, you never skimped on sharing with a family member or friend.

If a family member or friend stopped by and we were eating, there was no asking. We simply grabbed another plate or two so they could sit and eat with us. It didn’t matter if we thought we may not have enough. The guest filled their plate first.

If a family member or friend needed clothing, a ride, or anything else we had, we gave it to them. There was no holding back. Perhaps it is the poor who truly know how to share because they truly know what it means to be in need.

Paul tells the church in Rome to share with their brothers and sisters in Christ. They were to be hospitable to them. In those days, there were no Motel 6’s every few blocks. So, a traveler would need to find a family who would host them in their home. The traveler may be a complete stranger, but if they were a member of the body of Christ, another member was to host them.

It seems the richer we have gotten, the more selfish we have gotten. We hoard clothing, jewelry, and food. We spend our money on more expensive items, seeking status. We have a bigger desire to stay current with the latest trends than to share with those in need.

I pray we all change our mindset toward sharing. I pray we share all we have with those in need. I pray each one of us will decide to host our brothers and sisters in Christ when needed. Share with others. Share your best with fellow Christians. Be willing to host fellow Christians. Change your attitude. Rid yourself of selfishness.

Romans 12:13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Gifts of Grace

Have you asked God for gifts? Have you asked God to bless you? Have you inventoried the blessings and gifts He has given you? Do you know God gifts you with talents?

We may call them spiritual gifts. We may call them natural talents. We may even state that someone has been taught or grown into certain abilities. Our culture likes to explain why someone is good at specific things.

But have we sat down to ponder that? God has blessed each one of us with certain gifts that allow us to be good at what we are good at. He has given us gifts of learning, putting together the pieces, orating, and physical abilities. God works within us.

It is not a question of whether God is working. It is a question of whether we are listening, watching, and paying attention. Each one of us is blessed with a gift or multiple gifts to build up the body of Christ.

Building up the body of Christ is not only attempting to draw others in, to seek and save the lost, but is also edifying and building up those already in the body. As we strengthen a brother or sister, we strengthen the body of Christ.

I pray we all seek to know the gifts God has blessed us with. I pray we listen, watch, and pay attention. I pray each one of us will use our gifts to build up the body of Christ. Ask for God’s gifts. Ask God to bless you. Ask for spiritual gifts. Inventory your spiritual gifts. Use your gifts to strengthen the body of Christ.

Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Stumbling Block

Are you a stumbling block to others? Do you create situations, knowingly or unknowingly, that cause issues or problems or failures for others? Do you judge others harshly when they cause you to stumble? Have you looked at yourself before passing judgment?

There are times when we might be a stumbling block to others unknowingly. It is those times when we purposely cause someone else to fail that we are defiantly disobeying God’s instruction. Most of us will not admit to causing others to fail purposely, at least not without fanfare from our friends.

Yes, our culture makes it popular to cause others to fail. It is when we gain praise for causing others to fail that we purposely go about it. It has become so popular that multiple reality shows are built on that very premise. Do whatever you can to cause someone else to fail.

However, we are explicitly told not to cause others to fail. We are not to put a stumbling block in their path. We are not to set them up for failure. We are not to judge others for doing the same exact thing we do. First, we are to clean up our own act. How can we do that?

We must rely on God and the spiritual gifts he has given us. When we tap into our spiritual gifts, we are tapping into God. When we tap into God, we will no longer put stumbling blocks in someone else’s path, nor will we judge them. After all, we are told to leave judgment to God.

I pray we all stop passing judgment. I pray we stop purposely putting stumbling blocks in others’ pathway. I pray each one of us tap into our spiritual gifts, thereby tapping into God. Do not judge. Do not put stumbling blocks in someone else’s path. Tap into your spiritual gifts. Tap into God. Seek the positive change in yourself.

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Build Up

What is your purpose? For what reason were you put here on earth? Why has God blessed you with spiritual gifts? Are you more curious if your life will be a success by human standards than if you will fulfill God’s purpose for you?

We all have a purpose in life. God has given us a purpose. It is built into us. Unfortunately, far too many pay no attention to that purpose. Instead, they pursue some other purpose, usually one the world tells them they should pursue.

Make no mistake about it, we all must earn a living. That means pursuing a profession. Some professions require additional education, so we pursue college degrees. Most of us desire to have families, which includes taking on increased responsibility. With the cost increase of supporting a family, we pursue better jobs or climbing the corporate ladder. Somewhere in this mix we lose sight of what God wants us to do.

No, God does not want us to ignore our families. Yes, God wants us to earn a living. But He also wants us to pay attention to Him and His family. In fact, He blesses us with spiritual gifts to aid in the care of the body of Christ.

We are to use the gifts God gives us to edify, support, and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to use those gifts to build up the church. It is sad when we see or hear people putting their brothers or sisters down because their gift is perceived to be lesser. Folks, we need every person and every gift to build up the church. As the currently popular saying states, “It takes all of us.”

I pray we all use our gifts to build up the church. I pray we come to the realization that we need every person and every gift available to us. I pray each one of us seek to know our gifts and decide to contribute to the body of Christ. Know your gifts. Put your gifts to use. Build up the church. Seek to edify one another. Be an encourager.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Give a Reason

How prepared are you to give a reason for your faith? Are you prepared to correct someone else for disobedience to God’s Word? Can you use God’s Word to encourage someone? Are you mature enough in God’s Word to use it with patience?

If we have been in the church long enough, we have heard multiple times that we are to be prepared to give a reason for our faith. For some, it is difficult, and they may not know where to begin. For others, they can recite a reason as though they have memorized it since childhood.

Being prepared to give a reason for our faith is key. Why? If we know why we have faith, it becomes something ingrained within us. It guides us. It is the filter through which we make many of our decisions. When we are caught off guard, we resort to that which is internalized. Being prepared takes work. It takes commitment. And it can be our lifesaver.

We are also to use God’s Word carefully and patiently to correct and encourage others. We have all heard someone use it to harshly rebuke another. Though there may be those rare situations when someone needs a stern rebuke, it should not become abusive. Since when does driving someone with a sledgehammer entice them to follow Jesus? As the old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink.”

No, we are to be patient and careful with our corrections. People do not change at the snap of our fingers. For some, it takes years to chip away the stone of defiance. Patience, continued encouragement, small corrections, taking one step at a time is how we change them. We can make a huge difference in someone’s life, if we are patient and careful.

I pray we all are prepared to give an answer for our faith. I pray we delve into God’s Word so we can correct and encourage others. I pray each one of us are patient and careful as we coach others to become followers of Christ. Be prepared. Know why you have faith. Correct others. Encourage others. Be patient. Be careful. Make a difference in someone else’s life.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.