So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul. Hebrews 3:12-14 The Message
If you have an encourager in your life, that’s your best friend, a great gift from God. If you want to have value in the life of another, be an encourager.
There are lots of verses in scripture that encourage us to encourage. Here’s just ten. In fact, if we give it any thought, encouragement is really our mission. When we encourage the non-believer (sometimes we call it witnessing or sharing our faith) we fulfill the great commission. If we remember that it’s really encouragement we are about, we will do it properly. We won’t bible bash. We won’t come across as holier-than-thou. We will point folks to Jesus. There’s nothing more encouraging that.
When we are dealing with our brother and sister Christians, we sometimes call it making disciples, we are really in the business of encouragement. As the writer of Hebrews tells us, encouragement is about watching our steps and helping others do the same. Encouragement keeps unbelief from tripping us up. It keeps our focus on God gripping the hope that is in Him.
The purpose of this blog, Nick’s Walk, is encouragement. I’m not sure I fully realize that at all times, but encouragement is a good summary word. Beginning on Sunday, September 16, at 6 p.m. at Amana Christian Fellowship, there will be a weekly meeting for the readers of Nick’s Walk. We’re calling it Nick’s Talk, just to be cute. We will discuss the blog entries of the week before; that’s our format. But encouragement will be our purpose. It’s so much better to encourage in person than it is to try to do so online. I hope you will mark this on your calendar and make encouragement something you are involved in at least every Sunday at 6 p.m. if not the rest of the week.
Be encouraged and be blessed.
Nick
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