My dear sheep. Often we think of encouragement as being something that is needed for the discouraged. You see a person struggling and you think to yourself, "That person needs encouraging." That is a wonderful conclusion and needs to be followed with action! However, did you ever think about encouraging those who are showing good skill and excellence in the family of God? Often we benefit from individuals and we fail to encourage them for the benefit we have received.
In 2 Chronicles 29-31, we are told of the wonderful reformation and revival brought about in Judah through the labours of King Hezekiah. In the middle of the story we read this very enlightening verse, "And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the LORD." (2 Chron 30:22) Hezekiah was immensely grateful for the work that these Levites had done, so he went and encouraged them. Why? Because he wanted to see more of it! The world knows that if you want good results; you need to praise good behaviour. The same applies to the family of God.
Have you benefited from someone recently? Maybe you felt warmly welcomed by the greeters at the door, appreciated the music team, the beautiful flowers on a Sunday, the food at morning tea, the cleanliness of the church, the chairs being set out right, etc. Let me encourage you to encourage one another!
This week, find something that you can encourage a fellow believer in. As Paul would say to the Thessalonians, "Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thess 5:11)
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