Dear Rose Park,
Yesterday afternoon Sam, Simon, Winnie and I drove to the corner of Riley and 120th to Eagle Crest Charter Academy in order to watch our friend Ava Lemire play volleyball. It was so much fun to see her play and see her gifts on display. Even more, it was so much fun to see Ava’s friends and family cheer her on.
Encouragement is something that is littered throughout scripture. Particularly in Paul’s letters to the New Testament churches, we see, hear and even experience encouragement. At one point, Paul puts subtly aside and writes plainly, “encourage one another and build each other up.” As Christians we should be speaking words of encouragement regularly. However, it seems to me that we have bought into a lie that tells us the more often we use words of encouragements the cheaper they become. We’ve been blinded by an assumption that encouragement should only occur on special occasions so it means more. Friends, this is nonsense.
If we read scripture often, does it cheapen the value of scripture? No. If we pray to God often, does it cheapen the value of prayer? No. If we laugh with family and friends around the dinner table often, does it cheapen the value of laughter? No. So, why would using words of encouragement to build one another up on a regular basis cheapen the value of those words? It doesn’t make any sense to me. I want to echo Paul’s words and remind us to encourage and build one another up on a daily basis. Our words of encouragement should extend beyond Sunday morning; they should occur in a text message on Monday afternoon, in an email on Wednesday night, over coffee on Friday morning, and around the dinner table on Saturday night.
But when Paul is reminding us to speak words of encouragement, he isn’t talking about blanket statements like “you can do it!” or “you go girl!” These aren’t bad things to say, and there is certainly a time and place for these kinds of rah-rah encouragements. Instead, imagine the impact that might occur if you were to hold your spouses hand, look them in the eye, and say, “I’m so amazed at what God is doing in your life and I’m so thankful for your support in what God is doing in my life.” Imagine the impact that might occur if you were to send your child a text message that says, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made and I’m so proud of the young-man/woman you are growing to be.” Imagine the impact that might occur if you were to call your parent and with a sincere heart say, “I’m so thankful for the love that God has put in your heart and for the love that you have reflected onto everyone else.” Or imagine the impact that might occur if in between sips of coffee you were to tell a beloved friend, “I’m so glad God has put you in my life, your faithfulness to Him is worthy of imitation.” These kinds of words would not be cheap in the ears of those who receive them; instead they would inspire, encourage, and build them up in their walk with God.
So, who can you encourage and build up today? Whether it’s a friend, a spouse, a parent, or a middle-school volleyball player we all have someone in our lives that we could speak encouragement to in order to build them up in Christ Jesus.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark