Encouraging 
(Third in a series of one-anothering articles)

by R. Cody Smith  

“We encourage others by saying or doing things 
that make God more visible to them. The more we know of them, 
the more valuable our contribution can be,” Wayne Jacobsen.

In my own search for a more authentic Christian experience probably the most important things I have discovered is the distinction between going to church, and actually becoming the church. Frustrated by my own inability to connect spiritually with others, I moved toward the intimacy of smaller groups of believers. I discovered however, that it’s not the size of a group that is important, but what we do, when we are together.  

       In the New Testament there are at least twenty-two examples of what we might expect to see when the church (The Body of Christ) gets together. We call these, the “one-anothering” verses. In this article we are going to take a look at several of these that my friend Wayne Jacobsen groups together under the heading of “Cheerleading;” verses* that exhort us to encourage, admonish, stimulate, and comfort one another. 

Having embarked on the disciple’s path you are probably well aware that just like Pilgrims Progress, or the Wizard of Oz. the way is fraught with challenges, distractions, temptations, and even pain. Traveling with others on our pilgrimage is more than just having some pleasant company; it is going to be essential to the success of our journey.  

       The early disciples faced some pretty horrific challenges, and some pretty ordinary ones as well. While the temptations and distractions of the saints in the West may not threaten our physical lives, our enemy the Devil, is no less intent on our spiritual destruction. Believe me when I say, the stakes are as high now as they’ve ever been.  

       I want to be honest with you now. Most of the time I am unconsciously focused on trying to get my own needs met with little thought to the needs of others. There seems to be a shortage of everything and I usually want to be first in line. I think this is probably a normal human condition, or expression of my carnal self. Regardless of this feeling, and my past experience I must somehow come to trust that there is no shortage of anything, that God provides abundantly, everything I need to live life in it’s fullest.  

       When I begin to act out of this belief I become free to dispense this abundance to others. Being there for others, giving of our selves, it’s the Jesus style…    

Encouraging:

I’ve found in my own experience that encouraging others does not come naturally. At some point I simply need to take a chance and act out of obedience. Beginning awkwardly at first, I become inspired by the way God is able to use me, and become full of visions of the incredibly loving relationships that can grow in the Body of Christ.

Learn this language of love, and
  add the name encourager to your list of attributes. 

       Can you think of a time when some one really encouraged you and made you feel good about yourself? How empowering it was. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have people like that around all the time? Why not become one of them yourself? There’s just not enough encouraging going on. Shift the balance; be an outlandish encourager, this kind of living pleases God… 

* Ro 15:14, Col 3:16, 1Th 4:18, 1Th 5:11, Heb 3:13, Heb 10:24-25

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