Encourage one another

We have an awesome friend who is a great encouragement to our family.  He loves our kids, he drops in unexpectedly like Santa Claus, he prays for us and he is always offering words of encouragement.  He is a friend we greatly, greatly appreciate.  Sometimes God blesses you like that by placing people in your life who, no matter how much you screw up, still see all God has created you to be and all God is creating you TO be in the future. This friend is like that to us.  I know when we hit the missions field, he will be the first to jump on supporting us in prayer.  He already is.

I Thessalonians 5:9-11 (The Message)  says:  "God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it."

Do you see what that says?  No angry rejection?  Salvation?  A death that triggered LIFE?  We're ALIVE?  Speak ENCOURAGING words.  Build up HOPE.  No one left out.  No one left behind.

That's amazing.  Oh how God could move in His people, in His church, if we would speak LIFE and not death.  If we would learn, like my friend, to encourage one another - offering hope.  No one left out and no one left behind.  If we could only grasp how deep and how wide the love of the savior is - and then treat each other the same - wow.  God could do amazing things.

I wonder sometimes how much it hurts our Savior when we act just the opposite of this.  When we backbite, when we gossip, when we are short with our words, when we dash the hopes of others.  It must grieve him greatly to see his children tear each other up the way we sometimes do.  I know I truly dislike when my kids fight.  When they say harsh words to each other and yes, sometimes, fight physically - it does split my heart in half.  On the flip side - when they laugh and play, speak words of life, to each other - oh how my heart swells with pride.  Both bring tears to my eyes - but I prefer tears of joy to tears of sorrow.

I encourage you fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.  Encourage one another.  Lift up.  Speak life.  We need each other.  We need each other.  We need each other.  We were not meant to do this thing called life alone.  Leave no one behind.  Leave no one out.  Be like my friend who always brings joy to our lives when he stops over, calls, or writes.  Love each other the way Christ loves each of us.  Then watch what God can do in our hearts, in our homes, in our world.  The world needs us to love each other my friends.  We must offer something different, something life giving, to the dead and dying.  Be a hope giver.