Encouragement to Be an Encourager

        “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” (Romans 15:5)

        The mind that Christ had is defined for us with this appeal. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Ephesians 2: 5 – 11).

        First, get yourself off your mind and your mind off yourself.  

        Would you like to be more accepted by people, even have more friends? You can have, just increase your encouragement of others. It’s a free market. Most of the people you encounter today need encouragement. To them you are a “dis” or an “en,” a discourager or an encourager. You choose. Encouragement given is a magnet, it attracts.

        Remember the last time someone encouraged you? You liked it, didn’t you? It will be the same to those you encourage, they will love it, and hence be more approving of you.

        According to Hallmark, 90% of consumers want more choices in encouragement cards that will allow them to share support in unique ways for real life situations.

        We live in a crabby world. Living in Louisiana for a time I noticed that if you put a bunch of crabs in a basket and one attempts to crawl out the others will pull him down. How like the human world that is. You can counter that by reversing the action of those who pull others down. Boost others. A word of encouragement can lift a heavy load. Bear one another’s burdens.

        Many people have spiritual heart trouble. The root for encouragement is “cour.” It speaks of the condition of the heart. King Richard was known as  “Richard the Lion Hearted,” meaning he had the heart of a lion in combat. What is the condition of your heart? You will be wise to be known as being kind hearted. Jesus was and He is to be our exemplar. 

        We serve our Lord under the mandate to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

        “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (I Thessalonians 5:11).        

        The key word is “edify.” Edify and edifice come from the same root meaning to build up. If you edify a person you are building them up. Kindness, love, courtesy, grace, thoughtfulness, compassion, and kindheartedness are some admirable building blocks.