Encourage Each Other

Hebrews 10:24-25 ERV
[24] We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works. [25] We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day (of Christ’s return) getting closer.

Good Morning:
Life gives us many opportunities. We have opportunities to learn, earn, build, gather, create experiences, and many others. One of the biggest opportunities and blessings we receive in this life is to bless and encourage others. The Bible tells us that it is a greater blessing to give rather than to receive. This doesn’t have to be money or things, it can be pouring out into other people through encouragement, praying for them, giving them your time to listen, just being an ear for them and to offer kind words of advice or just doing random acts of kindness.

As busy humans, we (and me included) often pass on these opportunities of blessing other people, just because we are so busy with the stuff of life. We often don’t see and totally miss the opportunities to make real impactful differences in people’s lives. If everyone (me included again), took more time to be thoughtful to others’ needs by doing things like: offering to take a friend to lunch or for coffee, or helped a neighbor in need by cooking a meal for them, or gave someone a ride to work that needed it, or worked a shift for a workmate that needed time off, or called a friend you know is going through a tough time to encourage them, then we will make a difference, one little thing at a time. People take notice when you offer kindness and encouragement and there is no better way to show God’s love than through being a living example.

Jesus tells us in the parable of The Good Samaritan (below) to “Go and do likewise.” What He meant by this is to not only look for people that have been robbed and beaten, but to be on the lookout for opportunities to bless others in all of life’s circumstances. If everyone had an attitude of serving others first, imagine how different this world could be! If just half of people that call themselves followers of Christ would live with this attitude, we would surely see a different society. Unfortunately, our natural tendency is to live a “me-first” life. It is difficult and even inconvenient to live in a state of servant-hood and none of us can do it perfectly. But small random acts of kindness certainly put us in the right direction.

Be on the lookout for those little opportunities that you can be helpful, encouraging or thoughtful to those around you. You never know whose life you can touch by just a small contribution to their life.

I love you and am praying for you today.
Dad

Acts 20:35 ERV
[35] I always showed you that you should work just as I did and help people who are weak. I taught you to remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘You will have a greater blessing when you give than when you receive.'”

The Parable of The Good Samaritan:

Luke 10:30-37 NKJV
[30] Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [32] Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. [33] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. [34] So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35] On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ [36] So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” [37] And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”