I have been thinking a lot about encouragement recently. I am blessed to serve a church where there are numerous encouragers. I realize however, that there is a deficit of encouragement in our culture. There is more than enough negativity and criticism to go around, but not nearly enough encouragement.
There are many words in the New Testament which describe the functioning of the body of Christ and what believers are expected to do for one another. One that is used frequently is parakaleo, translated "to encourage." One of the most comprehensive passages instructing us to encourage one another is in Hebrews 10:19-26.
Christianity involves a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but it is lived out in a corporate experience. Christians are not intended to grow in isolation from one another. We are to come together regularly for the purpose of mutual encouragement, and in order to develop our faith, hope and love together. We come together around the Word of God, to celebrate the Good News.
After Jesus ascended back into Heaven, the Holy Spirit came as the Counselor or Comforter. The word that is used in the Greek is parakletos, or paraclete. So it would be appropriate to identify the Holy Spirit as the Encourager. He encourages us now with the Truth. God wants us to use what we have learned to encourage one another. We can encourage one another with His plans and promises.
Think about it from a practical standpoint. Who are the people that you are drawn to? The negative, critical people? Or the positive, encouragement-minded people? It is the encouragers. People are drawn to encouragers. Biblical encouragers tend to be people who are humble, and whose faith is well grounded in God.
I pray that God would raise up more encouragers. Over the next couple of days I am going to consider the subject of encouragement, and focus specifically on Barnabas, the son of encouragement. I hope to offer some practical examples of how we all can do better in this area.
