Encouragement

Today I'm just gonna talk about something that has been dear to my heart for some time now--encouragement.  The Bible calls it "exhortation."  

I was certain that I knew all there is to know about being a Christian and living the life, at least while other Christians were watching, when I moved from Pearblossom, California to Bullhead City, Arizona.  But while I was in Bullhead City I learned soooo much about living for Christ that I can't add enough "o's" to the word "so." Chuck Kelly one day in church mentioned the importance of encouragement, or Lynda did; someone encouraged me and I got encouraged to be a bigger encourager of others.  (Wow!  That's a lot of encouraging going on!) 

I thought I would share with you some of the scriptures here that talk about exhortation *(encouragement) in the Bible.  Before I do, here’s what the Strong’s Concordance says about the word, exhort.  Greek: ‘parakaleo’ (that’s right, like the paraclete, the Holy Spirit!) 

It can be interpreted thusly:

1) to call to one's side, call for, summon

2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.

a) to admonish, exhort

b) to beg, entreat, beseech

1) to strive to appease by entreaty

c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort

1) to receive consolation, be comforted

d) to encourage, strengthen

e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging

f) to instruct, teach

All of these meanings—you’re doing this when you encourage someone.  Look at the following verses with that in mind:

1 Thessalonians 4:5 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and *urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we *urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

2 Thess. 3:11-12 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and *urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can *encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Hebrews 3:13 But *encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

*(exhort/exhorted)

We talked about quite a few things last night at the Bible study, but one thing that came up was this topic of encouragement.  I was unaware of how many women I had affected with an excitement for fellowship, for church, for Bible study, while going to CCBHC.  

When I got ready to move to Washington, at the last TWIGS meeting (they’re having one tonight—without me!  Sniff) Tami got up and said that I had invited her to come to some fun thing we were doing in service to others, and that it made her a part in a special way. 

Other women went out of their way to tell me what a difference it had made that I had given them a word of encouragement-some at just the right time.  I was blown away by what simple obedience can do!  All I had done is looked for someone to be a blessing to, to speak a word of encouragement to, and God had done so much more.

I encouraged the women last night to look around them while at church for someone they could come alongside and lift up—encourage—in the Lord; someone to mentor, or befriend, or bless with just camaraderie. 

Today, I was taught, reminded, exhorted! and blessed by God in discovering another truth I had neglected to mention last night. 

When you serve God this way, YOU end up getting the most encouragement of all!

Today at work a lady called and said she could use a food box.  Because she is on crutches and isn’t supposed to drive, I told her I would bring her one.  I could sense she was someone about my age, who sounded lonely, lives alone most of the time, and was discouraged. 

I had fun putting together a box that would make sure she’d have a couple of meals she could make up, and some canned goods, some staples, eggs, and some fresh produce.  I put it all in the car and went over to her house.

She was blessed!  I helped her unpack everything and put it on the counter so she could see what she had.  She was so happy with the food, but I also had a few books someone had given me (I gave up my predilection for crime novels a while back) and since I saw she was a reader, I offered these to her as well.  Then I sat down and we chatted a few minutes.  She told me about her family and I told her about mine, and then I asked if I could pray for her. 

I could sense the joy building in my spirit as I spent time with her.   I walked out of that house on cloud nine!  It was amazing!  I totally get why Jesus would say, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”  It was that satisfying!  The challenge is, be an encourager.  In the end, the biggest winner is going to be yourself.