Grace brings Encouragement

Ephesians 2:10 says: For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. We are thus looking at how we can “live by grace”, that is, demonstrate in our daily living the impact on us of God’s love and mercy.

Life continually has its challenges, and sometimes we struggle for answers to deal with certain of these challenges or decisions to be made. As individuals we often desperately need the input of others into our lives, as we travel down somewhat unfamiliar roads. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 … Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

To “encourage” is to give courage to! To “encourage” is to bring out and develop the good capacities that lie deep within a person. Then, on occasions where people feel jaded or stale or bored with their jobs or lives (or even in their roles at church), the role of the encourager is to ‘stimulate’ new interest, enthusiasm and growth. Dr Allen Meyer speaks of “encouragement” as being the “oxygen that fuels learning”.

How do we build up each other? This seems to suggest much more than just being courteous and sociable, and more than just supporting someone out of a ‘hole’. ‘Building up others’ suggests that we work to lift people up higher … right up into their [God-given] potential. We sense their need, draw alongside them, hear their pain, enter their suffering, creatively guide them forward – thus building their gifts and capacities.

Later, 1 Thessalonians 5:14 seems to address a very real church situation: And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. This does bring a wider application of the notion of ‘building people up’ than we may have had originally. There are those who may be starting from a very low base … those described as “faint-hearted” – lacking courage and committed decision-making … and those described as “weak” – which probably suggests those that are particularly vulnerable or lack moral fibre. These ones could also have suffered badly and been discouraged in the past (through various bereavements, hurts and abuses).

Such people are to be consoled, supported, guided and helped … with all patience! With all patience … because such ones may not be easily able to recognise encouragement, having not experienced much in the past. They may not be highly developed in Bible knowledge, nor have had many victories over temptation, and have found themselves easily swayed in the past. Yet they remain precious people to be nurtured. In a way, we share, at least for a period, a measure of our strength to compensate for their weakness or lack of courage.

In this ways knees previously lacking firm foundations can become unbuckled, soft touches of comfort untwists the stomach, and offers of experience, learning and [Divine] wisdom can see shoulders no longer hunched. In the process of being encouraged and built up, people can again access their value to God and affirm their unique calling, being more prepared to try new things. At the same time, their faith seems to be strengthening, trust issues are being resolved, confidence grows, relationships become easier, and they are generally becoming more spiritually enriched.

Then there are those described as “idlers”, where we see a whole different style of encouragement mentioned. These “idlers” are likely to have been favoured by many advantages, including good teaching and pastoral care – yet ‘sit’ on these as if they were only for personal advantage. The type of encouragement required here is termed “admonishment” – i.e. setting such people straight, giving them a reality check, even a calling to account; giving them a good dose of Ephesians 2:10. Of course, any such ‘admonishment styled encouragement’ toward “idlers” must be approached both prayerfully and humbly, lest anyone become embittered.

Often people think that the church’s mission is to deal with all the various individual needs that crop up (most particularly their own); but this is such a small part of the church’s true mission of bringing God’s grace to the whole world. Often people’s desires and needs can only truly be addressed and resolved as they get out of themselves and become fully involved with God’s bigger picture. People grow as they actively experience community; as experiments succeed, as people mix like never before, as people together make a difference. And working hand-in-hand toward mutual goals cements community together.

This then takes us to Hebrews 10:24-25 … And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. The last phrase here suggests some urgency and focus! Jesus-followers of the first century believed that Jesus would return quite soon, so therefore we should feel no less urgency.

Then in the first phrase we have that word “provoke”, which often has a negative connotation, but here is clearly directed at a positive outcome. This word could also be translated ‘stimulate, spur, urge, stir’; but with elements of meaning in the original Greek word “paroxysmos” like ‘irritate’ and ‘incite’, “provoke” seems stronger and more appropriate than these. To “provoke” is to act in a way that causes a reaction in others! Leading by personal example, if you like.

There is also the sense here of ‘encouraging in love’, so any “provocative” type behaviour must be done for the right reasons with a good Godly outcome in mind. As “love and good deeds” don’t just happen, and have to be worked at, what about the translation “awaken one another …”, with the idea that “love and good deeds” lie deep within us yet need to be actively drawn out.

But why do you think the concept of “meeting together” and encouragement are linked together here???

Of course the sort of meetings being thought of here is different to how we might think today (primarily in terms of formal worship services). The first century church more met in homes and spontaneously gathered at various times of the week for prayer, study and shared hospitality.

This seems to be about our desires and level of determination to be together … the thought of not missing out on being together (as a local expression of being family of God). This all has to be factored in with responsibilities to family, neighbours, friends and work. Quite complicated sometimes! Yet there seems to be a question here of where our heart is.

Ø  We are being reminded that the practice of encouragement is impossible from any distance!!

Ø  Also there is here the notion that the dynamic of mutual encouragement is best, where we lean on each other mutually according to our particular and varying weaknesses and strengths!!!