A Little Encouragement
Encouragement is a big deal. I was reminded of this yesterday as many of you came up to me after church and let me know that you’d be praying for me as I travel to Italy for missions, there were even a few unexpected neck hugs and I have to be honest with you, it meant a lot. I’d like to think sometimes that I’m tougher than I am, but let’s be honest, sometimes following God is hard. Sometimes God is calling us to step out in a big way or an inconvenient way and we struggle. As a dad, leaving my kids for a week is challenging, and as a pastor, leaving my church is not always easy. I’m glad to be a part of a church that believes in and practices encouragement.
Perhaps this is why Barnabas is one of my biblical heroes. I love that when we see Barnabas in Acts 11:22-24 on a missionary journey to Antioch he is encouraging the believers there. I also think about how Barnabas supported and encouraged the Apostle Paul. I wonder how much of what Paul did, especially early on, because God had used Barnabas to encourage him. The same has been true for my Christian walk. I can’t imagine how much of what I’ve accomplished is because God used people around me to encourage me through prayer, a supportive word, or some other simple form of urging me to keep pressing on in my calling.
Sometimes, we think that the words we say to others don’t make a difference. Other times we feel like we can’t do much for the Lord. Yet if we seek the Lord’s guidance He will show us how we can encourage and build up those around us. Consider 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “There encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This is a simple command, but an important one. Especially in the age in which we live, there’s no shortage of reasons to be angry, critical, or just to avoid and ignore others. Yet God may use our words to help someone do something great for him or maybe to help someone get through a challenging season in their life. Certainly, there are moments when the truth needs to be spoken in love directly. However, I think that there are far many more moments when love needs to be spoken.
Thank you FBC Bogalusa for encouraging me and praying for me and I ask you to continue to do so for all of those individuals that God brings your way. I will seek to do the same as your pastor. I’ll pray for you and seek to build you up as well. I also hope that like Barnabas I can be an encouragement to the Christians in Italy as they serve Christ.
Perhaps this is why Barnabas is one of my biblical heroes. I love that when we see Barnabas in Acts 11:22-24 on a missionary journey to Antioch he is encouraging the believers there. I also think about how Barnabas supported and encouraged the Apostle Paul. I wonder how much of what Paul did, especially early on, because God had used Barnabas to encourage him. The same has been true for my Christian walk. I can’t imagine how much of what I’ve accomplished is because God used people around me to encourage me through prayer, a supportive word, or some other simple form of urging me to keep pressing on in my calling.
Sometimes, we think that the words we say to others don’t make a difference. Other times we feel like we can’t do much for the Lord. Yet if we seek the Lord’s guidance He will show us how we can encourage and build up those around us. Consider 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “There encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This is a simple command, but an important one. Especially in the age in which we live, there’s no shortage of reasons to be angry, critical, or just to avoid and ignore others. Yet God may use our words to help someone do something great for him or maybe to help someone get through a challenging season in their life. Certainly, there are moments when the truth needs to be spoken in love directly. However, I think that there are far many more moments when love needs to be spoken.
Thank you FBC Bogalusa for encouraging me and praying for me and I ask you to continue to do so for all of those individuals that God brings your way. I will seek to do the same as your pastor. I’ll pray for you and seek to build you up as well. I also hope that like Barnabas I can be an encouragement to the Christians in Italy as they serve Christ.
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