Encourage One Another

From time to time we take a look at the “one another” commands in Bible. They given to us so we can know how to properly relate to each other in the church and so we can be built up, others can be built up, and our church can thrive in the love of God. Today’s command is given several places in the New Testament, but we’ll start with Hebrews 3:13.

Hebrews 3:13 – But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.

To encourage means to comfort, to exhort, to cheer. To urge or make an appeal to someone.^[1] It implies calling on the Lord in prayer. And it’s something we do for one another right up close – the term means to call to one’s side.^[2]

We need encouragement because the world is a difficult place, full of darkness and the ruin of sin. We face discouragement, tragedy, suffering, sorrow, pressures, disappointments, setbacks, and loss. Our spiritual enemies try day by day to brow beat us into submission – trying to convince us that God is not going to help us, not going to deliver us, that our situation is hopeless. The sin nature within us tries moment by moment to deceive us into thinking that we should give into temptation – that it doesn’t matter if we really walk with God and carry out His commands.

All of us, need encouragement. Hebrews says we need it on a daily basis. We need the cheering, comforting, exhortation of the truth. And the Holy Spirit, Who is our Comforter, and the term there comes from the same word that ‘encourage’ does in Hebrews 3, He sends us out to be agents of encouragement to one another.

Paul wrote in both Romans and 1 Thessalonians that we can give and receive encouragement through the Word of God.^[3] The hope and endurance we need to live in this world comes through the Scriptures, which comforts us with the truth of Who God is and what He is doing.

Some Christians have the gift of encouragement.^[4] We are not only thankful for you, we recognize your work in the Church is absolutely essential. But all of us are called to encourage one another.

On a practical level, we do this by praying for each other, by reminding each other of God’s plan and His faithfulness, and that His plan for our lives and this world is unstoppable. To bring consolation by reminding each other that the darkness will not overcome the Light.

This past week was particularly discouraging for our nation. Aside from the horrific, shocking, public assassination of Charlie Kirk, it seemed like there was a constant flood of horrible news. We are constantly inundated by these stories of violence, images of suffering, problems escalating as sin runs rampant in our culture, in our cities, and around the world.

This is exactly where encouragement comes in. It is not time to despair. It’s not time start hating. We must come together, side by side, to remind ourselves that our faith in Christ will drive out fear. The Christian life is never hopeless. Our God is the God Who encourages the downcast.^[5] And we are reminded that His love and power are the same whether you live under Solomon or Nebuchadnezzar, whether you’re worshiping in Jerusalem or enslaved in Egypt, whether you’re with Jesus feeding the 5,000 or in dungeon stocks of Philippi. Whether you win or lose an election. Whether the news is good or bad. Our Lord’s good work cannot be thwarted by scoffers or liars or killers. He has sent us out in joy and to proclaim the Good News of His victory.

Our world is simmering with godless hate. You and I have been called to a bold and vocal hope. To be a people who do not give in to the deception around us and become hard-hearted like so many others, but to be those who are strengthened, consoled, called to participate in Christ’s love. So, in the face of the troubles and sorrows around us, God’s Word sends this comfort: Let not your hearts be troubled. Let not your hearts become hard with hate or pessimism. Believe in Christ. Believe in the power of His Gospel, the continual outpouring of His grace. He will not disappoint us. He will not fail. And one day He will make every sad thing untrue. All will be made new. The day is coming!

Honor One Another

From time to time we take a look at the “one another” commands in Bible. They given to us so we can know how to properly relate to each other in the church and so we can be built up, others can be built up, and our church can thrive in the love of God. Today’s command comes from Romans.

Romans 12:10b – Take the lead in honoring one another.

What does it mean to “honor” someone? Well, it means to respect someone, to value them.^[1] To show appreciation and accord recognition.^[2] Now, how does that square with the fact that we’re called to servanthood and humility and not thinking more highly of ourselves than we should?^[3]

Quite honestly, we don’t do a lot of public recognition around church. We don’t name things after donors or bring people up front to talk about how great they are so we all can clap at them. We try to keep things more anonymous for a variety of reasons. One is that we believe service to the Lord should be done for Him, and not so I can receive accolades. When Jesus famously spoke about mustard seed faith, He ended that discussion by saying, “when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’”^[4]

Another reason why we don’t make a big show of commending people is because we live in the midst of a secular culture that thrives on selfish attention. That’s why social media exists. People often get very upset when they feel like they’re not recognized enough at work. Our human hearts want to be celebrated and, frankly, even when we are it’s never enough.

But are we neglecting this Romans 12 command to honor one another? Well, what are we being told to do? First, it’s not for me to be honored. The command is that I go out of my way to value Christians around me. To put them first. And not to do so so that I can then turn and say, “Ok it’s my turn.” In fact, this command is meant to keep our natural desire to honor ourselves in check.^[5]

And, the respect and recognition we give is not based on the person, but on the work God has accomplished. The praise goes to the Lord, not the human.

So, as usual, this aspect of our faith starts with our perspective: That I value and respect the believers around and look for ways to make them important by the way I behave.

The tangible ways of carrying out this command is not about puffing people up or flattering them, but celebrating who they are in Christ, acknowledging the work God is doing in them. It means not demanding the first place in line, not walking up to someone and saying, “That’s my seat, you need to move.” Not behaving as if whatever I want to say to this person matters more than the person they’re already talking to.

We can honor one another in all sorts of ways today – real ways – and I hope we all diligently pursue that command as we interact with each other.

The One Anothers: Emply The Gifts

From time to time we are taking a look together at the “one another” commands in Bible. There are about 60 of them, given to us so we can know how to properly relate to each other in the church and so we can be built up, others can be built up, and our church can thrive in the love of God.

Last time we looked at “greet one another.” Today we’re going to take a look at another command found in 1 Peter 4:10.

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

Peter goes on to list some ways that happens. But that’s the command: Employ your gifts for the benefit of one another. First of all, it’s exciting to know that the Lord specifically allocates each and everyone of His people with spiritual gifting for particular purposes.

So what is a spiritual gift? Well, they are abilities or activities given by the grace of God and His sovereign choosing that provide the power we need to accomplish the work of the Holy Spirit. So, that means you can’t earn or learn a spiritual gift and you don’t get to choose gifts, buffet style. It’s not about your natural skills, it’s a supernatural enabling.

Of course, we can all use our natural skills and abilities to serve God and help others – for sure. But on top of those natural abilities, God gives each of us gifts of the Spirit. And the reason He gives them is not for our own fame or to make us great or to make us feel like we’re better than other people. Actually, they’re given in the opposite direction. They are given for the common good of the Church.^[1] God gifts and arranges each of us so that the whole Body of Christ can grow in a healthy and joyful and supportive way.^[2]

According to Ephesians 4, as each of us operate our gifts to serve one another, all of us reach unity in the faith and in our knowledge of Jesus, and we grow into a greater and greater fullness of spiritual maturity and strength. Sounds great, doesn’t it? So my gifts are for you, and your gifts are for me so that Christ’s Body and our local expression of it can thrive and move and grow.

So, that’s the command: Employ your spiritual gift for the benefit of one another. Naturally that begs the question: What is my spiritual gift or gifts?

At this point, sometimes we’re tempted to go to the internet and take a quiz. But that’s certainly not how any believers figured it out in the last couple thousand years, right?

The New Testament has a variety of texts that teach us about spiritual gifts. We should all look at Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12-14, and 1 Peter 4. But, as you study these different lists, you’ll note they don’t all match. And they aren’t exhaustive. In fact, some of the “gifts” discussed in these passages are really categories, not specific activities. But going through these passages shows us the types of gifting He gives and the purposes He has in mind. And as we go through them, the Bible tells us we should desire spiritual gifts and pursue their operation.

The way we discover our gift is to, first and foremost, have a living relationship with God the Holy Spirit. God wants us to know what He’s given us so that we can put them to use.

Second, we see that spiritual gifts are primarily connected to the life of a church. There are different categories – some miraculous, some dealing with communication, some dealing with day-to-day initiatives – but they’re all about putting the Body of Christ together. Just like your body has extremely different cells but all are necessary. Blood cells are very different than nerve cells, which are very different than skin cells, but I’d really like to have all of them! Each has a necessary function that contributes to a vibrant life.

So, as I connect myself to the church family God has sent me to, and as I find my place in that organism, the Lord will reveal my gifts and bring them into action according to His design.

The principle I need to keep in mind is that my gifts are given not for me, but for you. My gift is given for the benefit of the one anothers around me. But if I don’t care about this gracious gift of spiritual power given to operate in my life for the growth of the church, then I’m going to become like a dead skin cell. Dried and flaky and ready to slough off at any moment from disuse.

So, our homework is to take a quick audit: Do I know what any of my spiritual gifts are? If I do, are they in operation toward others in a way that doesn’t bring accolades to me, but praise to God?^[3]

As we consider these things and the commands God has given us concerning them, we can each walk worthy with Jesus, in His power, in His grace, strong in the Lord together.