Glory Seed Devotionals, 2015: Year of Promise
God is my “Reservoir”
One of the greatest needs we humans have a natural hunger for is encouragement. There are times when I wonder how many relationships fall apart because of a lack of encouragement. How many marriages fail because one or both parties fail to encourage the other? How many students have failed and dropped out of school because of lack of encouragement? How many young people have failed to achieve their potential because of a lack of encouragement? How many empty pews are there because churches have failed to provide an encouraging ministry?
The bible speaks very strongly and pointedly at our need to be encouragers. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV) Eugene Peterson in the Message Translation puts it this way, “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.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, The Message)
One thing unique about encouraging another person is the one doing the encouraging must first be encouraged. We cannot fill anything when our “reservoir” is empty. However, while saying that from experience it is also true when God is our “Reservoir” there is an endless supply of encouragement as pointed out by the author of Hebrews. “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:17–18, ESV)
There is one last “reservoir” of encouragement that should not be ignored Paul refers to the as our BIBLE. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4, ESV)
BE ENCOURAGED in the LORD!
Grace and PEACE, Amen!
Gary
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“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
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Scripture quotations marked ESV "Are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."