Please Encourage Someone Today!

There is great power in the ministry of Encouragement! Today I opened up Facebook and saw I had a friend request, from a person whose name I didn’t recognize. Here’s the message.

"Kevin!!! I saw your comment on T's note and couldn't wait to contact you! You probably don't remember me but my wife and I were new students at BC the last semester that you were there. I sat in on one of the IV Bible studies that you were teaching and fell in love with the Inductive Bible Study! Thank you so much for your service to the Lord back in those days. Those early lessons laid the foundation for the study methods I use today as I prepare my sermons each week. I don't know where the Lord has lead you in the time since you left BC but I just wanted to thank you for serving Him. Blessings Brother! P.S. If you feel like sending a fresh batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies our way I would be more than happy to provide my mailing address!!!!!"

He’s right, I didn’t remember him very well but I looked up his pictures on Facebook and I remembered him. I did lead a ministry at BC for many years and did love teaching students the Inductive Bible study method (and still do!). And look, he not only learned the things I taught but he uses in to prepare sermons each week. For a person in ministry it is so encouraging to be encouraged. It is so encouraging to be told of the fruit of our ministry. This person and I only knew each other for a short time and our time together led to continued growth in the Lord and he is teaching others also. It’s also cool to think that the people who taught me Inductive Bible Study have a part in this heritage too (Thanks Pat Bultema, Chris Nichols, Barbara Boyd, and Paul Byers!)

The Apostle Paul lists encouragement as one of the gifts from God in Romans 12:8 and says if this is your gift the use it – encourage people. In his final words to the church in Corinth Paul says to “Encourage one another” (2 Corinthians 13.11). One of my favorite passages about encouragement comes in Hebrews 10:24-25:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The point of these passages is that for some it’s a spiritual gift to encourage people and those who have that gift need to fan it into flame (see 2 Timothy 1.6) and use it. But for the rest of us we are commanded to encourage each other too. Encouragement is a ministry!

So the student mentioned above encouraged me today – out of the blue. I wasn’t expecting it. But it sure made my day. It’s nice to know I made a difference in somebody’s life. My response to his email was to think of someone that has made a difference in my life and send them a note today. I encourage all of you to do the same.

Participate in the ministry of encouragement today.