You may never know the effect of what a little encouragement can do for someone. A smile, a note, or just a word can provide all the encouragement a person needs to have or maintain hope. Do you remember a time in your life when something seemingly little propelled you to great heights? For me, it was when I had transferred to a new bank branch. Being new to a place is a little uncomfortable, and I wondered if I would be successful. As I was making phone calls to bank clients, my new boss noticed what I was doing, smiled, and later came over to let me know he was pleasantly surprised that I had started calling on customers my first day. He then told me to keep up the good work. That little bit of encouragement gave me hope in my new environment.
Our heavenly Father is an encourager. Just read chapter one in Joshua to see what he said to Moses' successor. Three times in four verses, he tells Joshua to "be strong and of good courage." Joshua could do this because the Lord promised to be with him wherever he went. God's word encourages us today (cf. Romans 15:4), as we read about Joshua and others God encouraged. He does not wish that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). We see this when God tried to encourage an angry Cain to overcome his envious attitude toward his brother (Genesis 4:6-7). The name "Barnabas" was affectionately given to a man named Joses by the apostles, because he was a great encourager of others (Acts 4:36; 11:22-26). As faithful Christians, the encouragement we have in Christ (Philippians 2:1) strengthens us each day as we live with the assurance of eternal life (Romans 8:1; 1 John 5:13).
But we can also see the damage discouragement can do. Twelve men were sent by Moses to spy out the land of which God was giving to His people, but ten of the twelve brought back a discouraging report. The results were fatal. Moses said, "For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them. So the LORD’s anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying, ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.’ So the LORD’s anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone" (Numbers 32:9-13, NKJV).
I believe one of the greatest sins of omission is the failure to encourage others. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17). That is sobering. But all of us can learn to be encouragers. We simply must be a student of the greatest Encourager. The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away (Isaiah 50:4-5).
Today, you are in a position to provide encouragement to someone, even someone who may be ready to obey the gospel. A smile, an encouraging word, or singing the song of encouragement/invitation with conviction may be all he or she needs to respond. Encouragement is powerful, but so is discouragement. Be an encourager!
Brotherly, Jamie
