I remember hearing from someone many years ago (can't remember who it was) that when we walk into a room, our concern should not be, "Who will notice me, or who will talk to me, or who will encourage me?" Rather, before we meet with any person or persons, our thoughts should be, "Who can I notice, or who can I talk to, or who can I encourage when I enter the room?"
If we have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who stepped down from His Glory, humbled Himself, and was cursed by God in order to bring us to God, so ought we to step out of our "comfort zones" and step into another's life in order to bring the blessing of encouragement to another. Jesus didn't come to be served but to give His life for us.
This isn't easy. We must resist and fight against our natural instinct (our flesh), which wants to be served. We cannot begin to fulfill this command to encourage if we are stuck on ourselves and our own desire to be on the receiving end of Hebrews 10:25.
How do we do this? First of all (then more tomorrow), we need to begin each day in God's presence, being reminded of the Gospel. We cannot begin to serve our husband, our children, our families, and our brothers and sisters in Christ unless we gaze at Christ and "have this mind." In fact, Philippians 2 begins by giving us our motivation for encouragement. "If there is any encouragement in Christ..." Are you encouraged in Christ? Are you experiencing His comfort, the fellowship of the Spirit, and His affection and sympathy? If you are, then Philippians 2 is the only motive you (I) need.
It's been several months since I've spent time reading the "Gospel Primer" by Milton Vincent. I think it is time for me to return to that wonderfully clear presentation of the Gospel with its practical help for applying the Gospel to various areas of life. Let me leave you with this quote:
The more I experience the gospel, the more there develops within me a yearning affection for my fellow-Christians who are also participating in the glories of the gospel. This affection for them comes loaded with confidence in their continued spiritual growth and ultimate glorification, and it becomes my pleasure to express to them this loving confidence regarding the ongoing work of God in their lives.
Additionally, with the gospel proving itself to be such a boon in my own life, I realize that the greatest gift I can give to my fellow-Christians is the gospel itself. Indeed, I love my fellow-Christians not simply because of the gospel, but I love them best when I am loving them with the gospel! And I do this not merely by speaking gospel words to them, but also by living before them and generously relating to them in a gospel manner. Imparting my life to them in this way, I thereby contribute to their experience of the power, the Spirit, and the full assurance of the gospel.
By preaching the gospel to myself each day, I nurture the bond that unites me with my brothers and sisters for whom Christ died, and I also keep myself well-versed in the raw materials with which I may actively love them in Christ.
More tomorrow. Until then I'd love to hear if you have received this kind of encouragement from another within the Body of Christ. What was that like? What impact did it have on you?
2 comments:
i have a special friend in the church who always greets me with a warm smile. this friend is loving and encouraging me thru a difficult sin issue in my life which has been there since before my new life in Christ. she doesnt condemn but will correct, she listens and in love guides and most important she is trustworthy.
she has taught me so much in so short a time - i am truly blessed by GOD to have her in my life. even when i am sick she tenderly mothers me - i could never thank her enough so i think she is just encouraged to know i try to pass on her Christ like attributes to others and prayer and praise GOD for her - my sisters i prayer that you all would find a friend like this in the body of CHRIST - cealy
Cealy, it is an encouragement to read this and an even greater encouragement to learn that what you are receiving is being passed on to others by you.
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