Encourage One Another

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Love one another, prefer one another, accept one another, greet one another and encourage one another. Encourage one another is the most frequently mentioned one another. Hebrews 3:13,” But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” 

Encouragement comes easily for me, I think I was born to encourage others. Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts assessment? Spiritual gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. Paul writes about the body and the different parts of the body having specific jobs. Each one of us is blessed with a spiritual gift.

According to Don McGinn in the study Love One Another, “Encouragement gives emotional strength to someone who is struggling. Encouragement strengthens and reinforces someone who is on the right track. Encouragement prompts someone toward that which is good and stimulates honorable goals. Encouragement inspires people to dream and take bold initiative. Lastly, encouragement persuades people to live godly lives and develop godly characters.”

How do you encourage others? One way is to listen. Listen to the person’s story, the person’s concerns, the person’s needs. Use kind words. Word that edify. Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” When we think on these things, we will use kinds words to edify. 

Beloved, is there someone you need to encourage? Or are you in need of encouragement? You are a gift to me. The very fact that you are reading these words blesses me.

Blessings…