Back in May, I shared with you Psalm 42 and a glimpse of a person who was going through a very tough time, but they continued to put their hope and their focus on God in order to get through that rough time.  When we receive encouragement from God, it shouldn’t stop there.  We can then encourage others with the comfort or encouragement we have received. 

 II Corinthians 1:3-4 explains this.  It says,

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

This was written by the apostle Paul, who knew a thing or two about trials, problems, and discouragement. As we receive comfort from God’s Word during our particular trial or problem, we can then share that with someone else during a tough time that they are going through. 

One biblical example of someone whose name means “son of consolation or encouragement” was Barnabas.  In the book of Acts, Barnabas went to Paul to encourage him, after he was first converted, when others were afraid and skeptical of him.

(Acts 9:27) “But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.“

Barnabas was there to give support and confidence to Paul when he needed it. Encouragement is the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope. There are many passages throughout the Bible that tell us to edify or encourage one another. Here are just a few of them:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:18 – Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
• Hebrews 3:13 – But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
• Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Maybe you feel like you can’t do this.  Let me just encourage you that you are important to God, and you are an important part of the body of Christ. Think about these questions from Chuck Swindoll’s book, Encourage Me:

1. Who taught Martin Luther his theology and inspired his translation of the New Testament?
2. Who visited Dwight L. Moody at a shoe store and spoke to him about Christ?
3. Who was the wife of Charles Haddon Spurgeon?
4. Who was the elderly woman who prayed faithfully for Billy Graham for over twenty years?
5. Who financed William Carey’s ministry in India?
6. Who refreshed the apostle Paul in that Roman dungeon as he wrote his last letter to Timothy?
7. Who helped Charles Wesley get underway as a composer of hymns?
8. Who found the Dead Sea Scrolls?
9. Who followed after Hudson Taylor and gave the China Inland Mission its remarkable vision and direction?
10. Who were the parents of the godly and gifted prophet Daniel?

To most of these questions, we don’t know the answer right off the top of our head.  We would have to google it! God has made all the different parts of the human body, and He made them to function together. Not every part is noticeable, but all parts are vital and important! It’s the same in the body of Christ—we don’t see all the parts, but they are all important! You never know what impact you will have on another person.

Many times we can encourage ourselves by encouraging others.

The eternal perspective can help us with this. “Only One Life” was a very popular song when I was teenager.  This is the first verse and chorus:

“It matters so little how much you may own

The places you’ve been, or the people you’ve known

It all comes to nothing when laid at His feet

It’s nothing to Jesus, just memories to keep

Only one life

‘Twill soon be past

Only what’s done for Christ will last

Only one chance to do His will

So give to Jesus all your days

It’s the only life that pays

When you recall, you have but one life.”

I want to encourage you to do all you can to make your life count for eternity. Make it count by looking for ways to be a blessing and encouragement to others. I recently read a book by Dr. Ed Hindson (who recently went to Heaven himself) called Future Glory. It talks about the rapture of the church and then discusses what happens next in Heaven. The judgment seat of Christ comes soon after the rapture, and Dr. Hindson suggests we should think of it as an awards ceremony.

Why should we be concerned or be thinking about it? Well, there are various crowns mentioned in the Bible that we can receive:

• The incorruptible crown – an imperishable crown given to those who faithfully run their race.
• The crown of rejoicing – often called the soul winner’s crown.
• The crown of life – for those who endure trials, tribulations, and severe sufferings, even unto death.
• The crown of righteousness – for those who love the appearing of Christ.
• The crown of glory – given to faithful pastors and ministers of the Lord.

We keep these in mind, and desire to have them, so we can lay them at Jesus’ feet.

Be encouraged that God is with us, during our time on earth, strengthening us through the Holy Spirit, so we can serve Him as we serve others.

Be encouraged and motivated to set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Many times, things on earth don’t look so good, but that’s a reminder that the things that are seen are temporal, they are temporary and the unseen things are eternal—those are the things that will last. Our human mind has a hard time grasping this, but this is what the Bible tells us so we can know it is true.

What are some practical ways that we can encourage others? We can pray for them, and we can send notes, cards, a text, a message, or an email, telling them that we are praying for them and thinking of them.  We can share a verse, or in some situations, a small gift, or even some food or a meal. 

God is our refuge, He is our shield, stronghold, and strong tower (like the Great Wall of China).  God encourages us through His Word.  Ask God to help you be an encouragement to others.  Let the eternal perspective, the eternal mindset, be what helps motivate you to set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.  Life seems like a long time when we are young, or when we are going through a hard time, but when we look back, it seems very fast. The last verse of “Only One Life” says this:

“The days pass so swiftly

The months come and go

The years melt away like new fallen snow

Spring turns to summer, summer to fall, autumn brings winter,

Then, death comes to call.” 

We don’t know for sure how long we have on this earth.  During the last two years I have been to many funerals. In fact, in the past month, I have been to seven funerals! I have lost friends that were going about their daily lives, and totally unexpectedly, death came to call, and they were gone.  I’m thankful they were ready.  None of us knows our appointed time.  When that time comes, our opportunities to do anything on this earth will be over.  Our chance to serve the Lord, to share Jesus with others, will have ended.

Make this day count.

As Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ.”  If Paul could write that admonition to slaves as well as to people living in freedom, we don’t have any excuse for not living with that attitude. 

It’s easy to get down, and to feel like we are downcast and disquieted in our soul, with the many negative events that continue going on around us.  But let me encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus, let Him encourage you, and in turn you encourage others to know Him and to serve Him!

God bless, and please let me know if this devotional has been an encouragement to you this month!