“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
We began a series on the biblical “One Another’s” last week, starting with “Love One Another.” The example was the Good Samaritan, showing us who to love, and how to love. We learn from this that love is a verb; it is something we do, not just something we feel. In fact, I imagine most of you express your love by your actions and perhaps seldom feel what we think love is supposed to feel like (hope that made sense). Regardless of your feelings, you are expressing love. All the “One Another’s” are like that—they are actions.
Five times* in the Bible we are commanded to “encourage one another.” Encouragement comes from a Latin word “hortatorious” and means “encouraging, cheering, exhorting, urging, inciting, instigating.” This definition suggests the passage about Barnabas from Acts 11:21-26:
“And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”
Barnabas was known as the “son of encouragement” because he was constantly encouraging those around him. He was already a believer at the time of Saul’s conversion, and he stood up for Saul/Paul after his conversion until Saul/Paul was accepted by the church. He traveled often with Paul on missionary trips, and then split with Paul in order to continue to mentor his cousin John Mark (against Paul’s wishes).
I really like how the writer of Hebrews puts it: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
What are some ways that we can bless others with encouragement; how can we spur one another on toward love and good deeds?
Level 1: Consider each other. Take a personal interest in each other by asking about them, really listening, praying for each other. Build relationship.
Level 2: Be proactive in acknowledging what each other does well, focusing on the positives rather than the negatives, to reinforce good behavior. Build each other up.
Level 3: Pray for discernment to understand each other’s needs, particularly spiritually, and then to know how to speak life into that person, to know what to say to be able to exhort them to grow specifically, remembering as always to “speak the truth in love.” Christians are urged “look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.” For example, in the above passage from Acts, Barnabas, meeting with new believers, “exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.” We should encourage each other in our faithful attendance to worship services and to use our spiritual gifts for the glory of God.
Maybe you know the song “Home on the Range,” where “seldom is heard a discouraging word.” I hope you have had a home and work environment where this is the case, but many of us can’t claim that experience. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t foster this environment in our homes and workplace today and going forward. Biblical encouragement is such a great way for us to grow and disciple each other. When God’s people lovingly “encourage one another” with Christ-exalting words and deeds, the gospel message is not only clarified but amplified, and God is glorified. I am praying that we can build a home and workplace “where seldom is heard a discouraging word.”
In Christ,
Judy
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