BE AN ENCOURAGER TODAY
SCRIPTURE:
“But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution, we are encouraged by you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (1Thessalonians 2:6—13)
OBSERVATION:
Encouragement and testimonies are vital parts of a believer’s life. Paul was concerned about the believers in Thessalonica because of the trials he was going through. Paul feared that the trials and challenges he was facing would somehow discourage the faith of his brothers and sisters. However, Timothy brought good news about the church in Thessalonica.
The good news was that the Thessalonians were not just maintaining their faith and love, but they were actually growing in it. Moreover, Timothy was sharing with Paul how the believers had great memories and were longing to see Paul. In all of Paul’s distress and persecution, they were encouraged to hear about their faith.
Nothing encourages a believer more than hearing that others are growing in faith and standing strong and firm in the Lord. Our experiences as believers should be similar. Our faith must be strengthened when other believers are strengthened and standing firm in the Lord.
There is power in our testimony. Paul couldn’t find words to express the joy in his heart for what was happening in Thessalonian believers because they were not allowing Paul’s trials and challenges to dampen their faith and growth. The effect of believers’ encouragement and testimonies help give Paul a lift from concern to joy. I want to look at what the Thessalonian believer’s testimony did to Paul. Paul said, brothers and sisters, in ALL OUR DISTRESS;
- We were encouraged about you because of your faith.
- For NOW, we really live. Paul’s spirit was revived, and they realized God was working among the believers.
- We feel JOY and THANKSGIVING in the presence of God because of their love and faith.
- We long to connect with you in person again.
- We want to supply what is lacking in your faith.
Paul was so moved by the response of his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica that he prayed for them this special prayer. He prayed, NOW may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
What a prayer, what hope, and what encouragement to have such encouragement from each other. As a believer, I love to hear what God is doing in the lives of others. Nothing encourages me more than to hear my brothers and sisters rejoice over what God has been doing in their lives recently.
APPLICATION:
Whenever I hear words of encouragement and testimonies of other believers, my heart is always comforted and reminded of who God is. So many times we withhold our testimonies and encouragement for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must always be able to speak up and not be silent when it comes to the testimony of our love and faith in Christ. It will encourage so many people who hear our testimony and encouraging words. I want to do this always to other believers. Our words will lift a weary spirit. Our testimony will defeat discouragement in other people’s lives. I am reminded that I must always share encouragement and testimony so many will find strength and hope. Wev have a story to tell for the sake of others.
PRAYER:
Father I ask that you continue to help me see opportunities to share your word and testimony so I may encourage others to see your goodness and faithfulness. Open doors for me to be an encourager to others. Please help me to be sensitive to those around me so I may be able to give a word in season and out of season of the hope that is within me. Please help me to be sensitive to your leading to those who need an encouraging word and a testimony to life their eyes to you for help. I thank you for reminding me of the power of encouraging words and testimony of who you are. Amen!
