Encouragement

 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—
Romans 1:11 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.11.ESV

At the mention of spiritual gifts maybe our ears prick up. What is Paul referring to? Speaking in tongues or prophecy?

We might be surprised by the next verse, because Paul describes something we might be tempted to overlook as a spiritual gift. Paul is referring to the wonderful virtue of encouragement. If we're feeling encouraged, we might take it for granted.

If we're feeling discouraged, whether we realise it or not, what we really need is not a tongue or prophecy. Instead, we need a word of encouragement. We need someone to ask us to cheer up.

Paul and the Roman church had never met each other. He knew though that it would be mutually encouraging for them to meet. They would meet as he awaited trial before Caesar, and doubtless encouraged each other.

'Dear Lord, forgive us for so often overlooking the blessing of encouragement. Please help us to be encouragers in the faith. In Christ's name we pray, amen'

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mercy

  For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them. Deuteronomy 4:31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.4.31.ESV Jesus Christ is Lord. That's why they crucified Him, for claiming to be God and King: blasphemy to the Jews and treason to the Romans. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. So the same Jesus of yesterday is the Jesus of today. He was merciful yesterday, and He'll be merciful today and forever. He doesn't just turn around and decide to destroy people He's lavished His mercy upon. If we've received God's mercy, or if we receive it now, or before Christ returns, nothing can separate us from the love of God. If we want God's presence in our lives, and we cry out to Him for it, He's not going to abandon us in the wilderness of our sin. If we claim God's Bible promises for ourselves in faith, we are safe in Him. God promises never t
Read more

Power

 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.Exodus 9:16 ESVhttps://bible.com/bible/59/exo.9.16.ESV  Secular historians point to the lack of extra-biblical evidence of Hebrew slavery in Egypt and ensuing exodus. But here in this verse, God describes how this anonymous Pharoah has been immortalised in the annals of the Hebrews, so that God is proclaimed in all the earth. The mighty men of the world might think they can stand against God and win, but resistance is futile!  The more stubborn Pharoah was, the more the Lord was able to display His power. The more insistent Pharoah was of keeping his slaves, the more unreasonable he appeared. It was a battle of wills, and the will of Yahweh prevailed.  In the end, Pharoah will have been broken by the plagues. In the final plague, his own firstborn son was killed, the next in line to the throne of the world superpower. He might have tried to put a brave face on it, but he
Read more

Prayer

  Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/col.4.2.ESV Why should we pray? Firstly, because we're commanded to in God's word. Secondly, it teaches us perseverence; it encourages us to become steadfast in it. This is because God often says 'wait' in response to our prayers, which should spur us on to persevere rather than to give up. How can we become steadfast in prayer? No excuses nowadays! There are great apps like PrayerMate which remind us to pray and tell us what to pray for daily. One thing we can often forget to do with prayer is to be watchful in it. There's no use in asking God for stuff if we're not going to watch for His answers! Again, apps like PrayerMate can help us to look back upon past prayers and trace God's answers through it all. Another important thing to remember in prayer is to be thankful. We're not just to present God with shopping lists of request
Read more