Love Essential # 3 Encouragement

Love Essential # 3 Encouragement – Hebrews 3:13
“Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Temptation is real. Sin is deceitful and fools us while it lures us. Callousness to sin and its effects pull us down. Discouragement will wean us away from authentic fellowship, debilitate members of the body, make sin look more like light than darkness, and cause us to feel like we are unwanted, unworthy and useless. Criticism, judging, disappointed expectations, and failed attempts at ministry can cause brothers and sisters in Christ to desire to leave both the faith and the fellowship. It is a primary tool of the Evil One.

God says that one of the fundamental elements of love in the fellowship of believers is to encourage each other daily. We are to lift each other up, see the glass half full, talk about that which is praise worthy, excellent and helpful. Expressing appreciation, genuine talking about each other’s value (complements; not flattery), and pointing out the benefits to us personally of folks using their giftedness are just a few ways to encourage.

Who are you encouraging in the body of Christ of which you are a part? How are you doing it? When are you encouraging others? How often? Where?

A tell-tale sign of health in the body of believers is how much encouragement is taking place. God thought that encouragement was so necessary, He gave some people extra doses of that ability and called it a spiritual gift (Romans 12:8).

How will you encourage your fellow believers today? Tomorrow? And . . . . .

Encouraged by many ~ Bob