"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
There’s nothing much more fun than a dog in a car. He runs from window to window, his tail wagging, his tongue out. He really enjoys sticking his head out the window to catch the wind in his ears and jowls. For some of us, when we were a new Christian life was like that. We had that mountaintop high and are ready to go out and conquer the world to spread God’s Good News with everyone we meet.
Then maybe soon after, we are hit with some negativity from the world. We are hit with burdens that people deal with in their ups and downs of life. We may be torn down by our brothers. This may cause us to feel like we have lost some of that energy and we slowly feel we may not make a difference anymore.
Listen, that joy from the Lord is still there. We have many opportunities to fulfill Jesus’ command to “go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15) Keep serving the Lord even when there is negativity happening around us. If you are being discouraged by burdens or others’ words, remember that God loves you and Jesus died for your sins so that you have a way to Heaven to be with Him. Look to God for strength, encouragement, and love, then try to be the person who builds others up. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35.) Be the encourager. Let’s challenge ourselves to not tear people down, but to build others up in love. You might make a big difference in someone else’s spiritual walk by your words. Hopefully our joy will spread. Who knows, maybe you will even encourage the discourager.
Romans 15:5
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had."
Blessings,
Amy