All of us face challenging times in our lives. These life challenges are a part of living. It is easy to think you are alone in your struggles but everyone faces them. The only distinction may be that these challenges become more significant over time. Honest encouragement is always appreciated during those trying seasons. I have found the encouragement from Godly individuals has been the most meaningful.
Jesus obviously had that gift! I am amazed how he was able to speak the truth in love, emphasis on love! One of the many demonstrations of good encouragement was His words to the woman caught in adultery. After dealing with the hypocritical religious leaders, “And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”” (John 8:11) He was not ignoring her sin. She was a pawn of unethical followers of God to discredit Jesus. His words addressed her sin without words and pushed her toward right living. Another was His interaction with the “Rich Ruler” that believed he checked all the boxes of a Godly man. “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”” (Luke 18:22) Jesus did not hammer on his shortcomings. Rather he pointed him to a major obstacle block his desire to know God. Jesus example in both situations encouraged the individuals to the take the next step towards a deeper relationship with God.
I see the same emphasis in His last words to His followers before the crucifixion. After reminding them to make their relationship with Him the priority. He then encourages them, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:10) Jesus understood the process for spiritually maturing. He stated earlier that the Father, “the vinedresser”, is working to make his followers more fruitful. He is doing what needs to be done to help us grow in Godliness and effectiveness for Him. But it does not happen automatically, it still requires that we respond to God’s working in our lives. And it is here that we find the Lord’s encouragement to lean into developing our relationship with our Creator. His disciples had a long way to go and He focused their attention, and our on the correct path to follow.
I once worked for a Christian CEO that made a statement that I’ve never forgotten. “People know then they have blown it, they do not need us to remind them of it.” She was not ignoring the issues but describing an encouraging approach to mess-ups. What she was communicating is the need for encouragement at this times to help the individual become a better employee!
The Christian life is a lifelong process of maturing spiritually. The challenge is to not become stagnant once we get a grasp on the basic of being a follower of Jesus. But our focus on our own development often inadvertently results in us miss our role of encouraging others along the way. The Apostle Paul another Godly encourager writes the believer in Corinth, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 (Corinthians 11:1)
One of the greatest needs for followers of Jesus, is to encourage those around us in their walk for Jesus. We can encourage our young people by sharing testimony of God’s working in our lives. We can encourage young parents by reminding them that God is using them to influence to their children. Empty nesters would be encouraged by a invitation to help in ministry. We know that many of the saints in the Bible realized their greatest impact for Jesus in the later part of their lives. We can encourage our senior saint buy thanking them for their faithfulness. These are just a few general suggestions. I am remaindered that the encourager is also blessed! Jesus reminds us, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)
-Pastor Joe Parkinson