Encourage One Another

One of the comments from yesterday and my evening at my volunteer group last night made me think about encouragement. Today’s post, then, is just passages that touch on the act of encouragement. The more I lean into that being my particular gift, the more I believe that is what God wants me to do. Have a blessed day.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-18

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” ⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:1-7

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:2-21

¹⁵ He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14

¹ Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. ² You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. ³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. ⁴ Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. ⁵ May the Lord bless you from Zion;  may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. ⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—peace be on Israel. Psalm 128

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:4-8

Dear God, thank you for the positive interactions I had last night. Thank you for leading me to lean into being encouraging and to lean away from being hurt and offended. Dear God, help me to be kind, when it is hard, when I do not understand, when I am hurt. Thank you for the blessings you have offered. Thank you for my family. Dear God, you know the prayers of my heart for them and you know my personal “pray by name” list. You know better than I the prayers that each of those individuals need. I offer up those prayers that I do not know how to say.

Dear God, be with Speaker Johnson and our other political leaders, local, state and federal. Please give them wisdom and courage. Please give them guidance on how to lead the diverse group of individuals that make up this nation.

Please with the healthcare providers seeking to provide individualized medical care and going against consensus. Please be with the lawyers seeking to restore freedom. Please in particular give strength, courage and wisdom to Dale Saran, Brandon Johnson, J. Andrew Meyer, Barry P. Steinberg, Rachel Saran and Nick Kupper (military class action), Bobbie Anne Cox (New York quarantine camp regulation), Sujata Gibson (New York teacher cases which she won that are on appeal), Warren Mendenhall and team (Brooke Jackson cases, Grace Schara case), the First Liberty Institute Team (religious freedom cases in general), all the judges hearing these cases and all the attorneys that I have not named but that are advocating for the freedom you gave us. Please continue to lend strength and courage to Dr. Robert Apter, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden and Dr. Paul Marik, along with judges like Judge Doughty,[1] Judge Porzio,[2] Judge Worrell[3], Judge Steigmann,[4] Judge Don Willett, Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod and Judge Edith Brown Clement.[5]  Please be with each individual seeking restoration of freedom and justice where their liberty was restricted. Please give each of these individuals peace no matter the outcome in any of their cases.

Dear God, if it is your will and your time, please bring peace to Jerusalem. Please be with the families recently restored and the families still divided. Please be with the broken-hearted everywhere. In particular, please be with those who mourn, and let them feel your presence.

In your name I pray, Amen.