Encouragement
Encouragement
The Christian life is not a solo enterprise, and the self-confident believer who tries to make it that will be disappointed. After all, Christians belong to the same spiritual body and are sheep in the same flock, soldiers in the same army, and children in the same family, to name but a few of the many images of the church in Scripture. These images indicate clearly that we belong to each other, we affect each other, and we need each other. Frequently you find the phrase one another in the New Testament—love one another, forgive one another, edify one another, be kind to one another—and one another speaks of mutual concern and care.
Hebrews 3:13 admonishes 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.” In the early days of the church, the believers daily met in the temple courts, daily provided food for the widows, and daily led others to Christ (Acts 2:46–47; 6:1); so they had daily opportunities to encourage each other. Hebrews 10:25 commands believers to encourage each other to attend the regular meetings of the church where they could give and receive even more encouragement. Some Christians have a special gift of encouragement and must not hesitate to use it (Rom. 12:6, 8).
The Scottish preacher and writer John Watson, who wrote under the name Ian Maclaren, used to say, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.” I wrote that quotation in the front of my Bible and often looked at it before I stepped into the pulpit. There are many causes of discouragement in these difficult days, and our preaching, teaching, and counseling must assist people to rise above discouragement and believe the promises of God. Believers who are living in the present tense should be sensitive to the needs of others and take time to show concern, to listen, and to encourage.