En-Courage
“But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Hebrews 3:13

We are all, as followers of Jesus, to be an encouragement to others. We are to daily encourage, because life can be tough.

Encourage: En-Courage
To encourage means to help a person to be more hopeful, determined or confident, to give a boost to their courage that will help them to continue on the path they are on, to persevere in the battle they are fighting. To encourage someone makes their burden a little lighter.

We Have an Encourager
The word ‘exhort’ used in Hebrews 3, also translated encourage, is the Greek word ‘parakaleo,’ from the words ‘para’ meaning ‘to come alongside,’ and ‘kaleo.’ Para meaning ‘to call’, to ‘beckon’ or to ‘speak to’ someone.  When these two words are put together, it describes someone who comes alongside, urging or beseeching another to make a correct decision or action. It’s the word Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit, our Counsellor, in John 14:16

He comes alongside us, to encourage us in our walk, daily, hourly, moment by moment.

Pass The Encouragement On!
How amazing, that we have the Spirit of God to encourage, comfort and help us in our daily walk. But it doesn’t end there; we in turn are to encourage one another.  “…the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

This word “Parakaleo” was also used to describe the way military leaders encouraged their troops in battle. Many of us are in battles today, for our families, children, livelihoods, businesses, health, and marriages. During these trying times, with this virus sweeping across our world, we have a great opportunity to encourage one another!

We all have days when we need an ‘en-courager’ to come alongside and speak courage to us; to truthfully remind us that although the battle is hard, Jesus has already conquered, and that in Him, we are more than conquerors.

A Lifestyle of Encouraging Others
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Just as you are doing” – the phrase “build one another up” is present continuous. It isn’t a one-off event, but a lifestyle of encouraging others, just as we, in turn, are continuously encouraged by our Comforter.
We have daily opportunities to find battle-weary friends and come alongside. To remind our fellow ‘troopers’ what we believe – or more importantly, WHO we believe. To remind them of the hope we have in Jesus Christ, of His great love, kindness, goodness, mercy and faithfulness.

We Can All Afford To Give Encouragement
There’s no one alive who cannot afford to give encouragement to another person, even if it’s just a (genuine) compliment, or to acknowledge the service someone has given you.
What about writing a note to that person who keeps coming to mind, to say, “I’m thinking about you.”

Encouragement is contagious, once you have received it, you understand the great value of it and most people want to pass it on.

Who will you encourage today?🎈

Jill 💜