Encourage
Do you know someone who is an ‘encourager’? Perhaps you are one yourself? You know the sort of people I mean; they can’t help but say positive things!
They have that extraordinary ability to make you feel good about what you’re doing, and more importantly about who you are. They make you feel good about yourself!
You may have come across the five ‘love languages’? One of them is ‘words of affirmation’, which is about expressing affection through spoken words, praise, or appreciation.
These ‘word affirming’ people can make your day, through there encouragements, and we all need that!
In the New Testament there is a book simply called Hebrews, which is a letter written to encourage the first century Christians as they faced difficulties and persecution. The unknown author wrote this…
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds…”
In the context of trials and hardship, the author asks his readers to think how best they can support and encourage one another.
He suggests two ways that this can be done: Through ‘love’ and ‘good deeds’. In other words, he’s asking how they can inspire each other to love people and to do good.
Love is a big theme right through the Bible. It states, God is love, and his followers are called to love as He does. This has challenged the church for centuries, and I think sometimes the church has not ‘loved’ very well.
What does it mean for you to love other people? How do you demonstrate real love?
I believe the writer’s second point is connected to the first. When we truly love someone, it should result in action. Real love will always lead to doing something about it.
What does that look like for you? What are your good deeds?
Life is tough for many right now. Let me encourage you to think creatively and practically, how you can ‘spur on’ those you share life with, and how do you demonstrate real love and act on it!
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader