Living As Encouragers

I’ve been thinking about encouragement these days.  The Bible says: 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:11

The truth is that we are all different; we have a variety of gifts and talents.  One of the ways we all get better is by noticing and affirming the gifts in one another.  This reminds us that there are gifts to be noticed and encouraged in each one of us as we work together to do all that God has given us to do.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. … Romans 12:5-6

We would to well to appreciate the talents and efforts of others – both to keep our own efforts in good balance and to improve our common good.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:5-6

So Loving God, we want to follow along with Your example and teaching and be those who both endure and encourage.  We thank You for encouraging us with Your love and faithfulness even while we struggle.  We know that You are always ready to encourage us towards the fruitful and loving plan You have for our lives and offer to work in us by the power of Your Holy Spirit to actually get us to be successful in the things You have planned for us to do.

Today we want to become encouragers like You are.  We want to have the same attitude of mind toward each other that the Lord Jesus has for us and in this way bring honour and glory to You.  We know some effort is involved if this is to take place so help us to give this work of encouragement our best effort, knowing that You, the God of love and peace will be with us as we do.  Amen

So, in case we weren’t sure how often to be encouragers the Bible spells it out for us. 

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

Let’s do that today shall we.