Dear Church of the Open Bible,
Encouragement doesn’t come naturally to me. My eyes tend to focus on what is lacking far sooner than what is clearly abundant, often first as I look at myself and then at others. When I was younger, I chalked this up to personality but now I chalk it up to disobedience. While Scripture talks about people having the gift of encouragement, each of us is called to be encouraging to others. This doesn’t mean refraining from speaking the truth, but doing so in a way that builds up others (1 Thess 5:11).
The author of Hebrews states this as what we should be doing more and more as we gather in light of the end.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:24-25
Is your encouragement of others increasing all the more, as you anticipate Christ’s return? What does that look like? Encouragement can look like giving and sharing what we own (Acts 4:34-37). It can look like supporting and walking alongside others in their faith (Rom 1:11-12). But often encouragement is expressed in listening to others and noticing how God is at work in their lives (Acts 9:26-27).
Encouragement may not come naturally to me in my flesh, but it is becoming more natural to me in the Spirit. God is helping me to notice and celebrate His grace in the lives of others more. Let’s take some time to be obedient by encouraging someone today in the Spirit!