175 Sermon Illustrations on Encouragement

The word encourage simply means to put courage into another - something we all need to receive regularly.

Years ago - I was little more than a kid - one of the men in our church squeezed my arm affectionately and spoke a kind word as I passed by him.

I've never forgotten that tiny touch which to me was a big encouragement. Some years later I recall how in my beginning days of ministry after speaking to a youth group one of the members in attendance said to me, "Thank you for being God's messenger to me today." I've never forgotten her words and those of many others along the way either. (Sadly, though, a cutting word can have the opposite long-term effect.)

Encouragement. So easy to give, costs nothing, and worth its weight in gold.

As Leo Buscaglia said, "The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor. But that does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around. It's overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt."1

Be sure to encourage-and put courage into-someone today, especially your own loved ones.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for all the people who have encouraged me along the way. They are greatly appreciated. And please help me to be an encourager to someone else every single day just as others have encouraged me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

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1. Leo Buscaglia

If you're into college sports, it's always a big day. If you're into professional sports, it's always a big day. Some call it Alumni Day or Old Timers' Day. Whatever you call it, it's the time a lot of those who played on that very same field come back to cheer on the men and women who are today's players. If you're a player and the game is tough, glance up there in the stands. You'll see some people up there who know how you feel, who've played the game you're playing, who've gone against that same opponent, and who are up there right now, screaming their lungs out for you. They just really want you to win!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Reason You Must Keep Running.”

That picture of the alumni in the stands, rooting for the ones who are wearing the uniform today, is the inspiring picture that God gives us for those times when our game is tough. Hebrews 12:1-2, our word for today from the Word of God, and maybe God's personal encouragement note to you today.

“Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” The image here is one of an Olympic runner, running his race, encircled by thousands of cheering spectators in the stadium. The cheering crowd here is people who've gone before us who are watching us run the same race they have run successfully before us. And you know they've got to be cheering for you: “Don't give up now, man. Don't drop out. No, don't go off on that detour. Don't let that thing trip you up. Don't drop our legacy, man. Don't let it die with you!”

So who's in this “great cloud of witnesses?” Well, they're God's honored alumni, who have run for Him in previous generations. The previous chapter, Hebrews 11, identifies some of the all-stars who are watching you and me from the stands: Noah, Abraham, Moses, David. And maybe they've been joined by greats like John Wesley, and John Calvin, and D. L. Moody, and those five missionary martyrs like Jim Elliot. Or grandparents, great-grandparents, a mom or dad - who ran their race for Jesus all the way to the finish line, no matter how hard it got.

The previous chapter tells about some heroes of earlier races whose names we don't know but who paid a very high price for the very things you're running for. They're in the stands. They're cheering for you, too - those who “faced flogging” and others, the Bible says, who “were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword ... the world was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:36-38). We are running our race under the gaze of people who paid with their lives to finish their race for Jesus. So what's that that's keeping you from running? What's tripping you up? What's your reason again for slowing down or giving up? This is a faith that people have sacrificed for, shed their blood for!

The secret of running strong and running all the way to the finish line is still the same as it was when the lions came down the chute at the Coliseum 2000 years ago - “fixing your eyes on Jesus.” Because He didn't quit when it meant spikes in His hands and feet, thorns in His head, a spear in His side, and all hell poured into His soul. So you look up in those stands and you listen to those who finished like heroes. You look up there at the finish line at the One who gave it all for you - and remember that all of them are counting on you to finish what they started. To carry what they refused to drop. And there's Jesus waiting for you at the finish line, waiting to welcome His weary but winning runner home. You can't stop now!

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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John 13:1–3 (NAS): Jesus’ Farewell Words — Introduction « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. Introduction

1. Picture yourself, if you will, as someone who has known the Lord Jesus Christ for only a few years

2. Now, without knowing the details, you are aware that some pretty climactic events are about to happen

3. Your feelings and emotions are stirred up; you are filled with anxieties and questions; uncertainty faces you, replacing those first couple of easy years of joy and challenge in your faith

4. Then tonight, Jesus Himself comes into your presence and He is going to spend several hours devoted just to you, talking about what He is about to do and what will happen to you

5. What will He say? Should I be afraid? What preparations ought I to be making?

6. This is the atmosphere in which the farewell words of Jesus are delivered in John 13—17 and in which His disciples heard them.

B. General comments and the passage

1. This 13th chapter of John is the record of Jesus remembering the Passover with His disciples for the last time (some put it 2 days before the Passover in Bethany, but I think that is incorrect)

2. The exact order of events during this Passover celebration is not easy to determine indisputably

a. the evangelists do not always record events chronologically

b. none of the gospels gives a complete record of all events

c. also, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the Passover meal was not a hurry-up, sit-down affair, but even if not identical to how it is practised today, it still covered considerable time with the various part, including the quoting of the Great Hallel passages from the Psalms 113 through 118

d. but it is my understanding the order of event in this chapter is generally as follows:

(A) they enter the upper room and recline at the table

(B) the paschal meal is served and they begin to partake

(C) the disciples argue about who will be greatest

(D) Jesus interrupts the meal by arising and washing the feet of the disciples as they recline on their couches

(E) the meal continues

(F) the question arises as to who will betray Him

(G) Jesus gives the sop to Judas and he departs from them

(H) Jesus institutes the Lord’s memorial supper; two views

(1) this was the last part of the traditional Passover supper to which Jesus now gave new meaning

(2) this was a new addition to the tradition which had never been done before as part of the Passover

(I) I believe the latter to be the correct, because of

(1) the emphatic use of “this” distinguishing what was about to take place from all that went before it

(2) the phrase “new covenant” which contrasts it with everything in the original paschal meal

(J) then they concluded by singing a hymn; either Psalm 118 or perhaps, as today, Psalm 136

3. We will just look at verses 1 to 3. Verse 3 is just the start of a sentence and it introduces the next event that John records; but we will independently consider it tonight, just as it is.

C. (NAS): 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, …

D. Discussion questions

1. to what does the phrase “his hour” refer (John 7:30, 8:20)? « – it is His death, but not just dying alone, but its manner and purpose; also, the fact it was no accident or mishap »

2. what is meant by “his own” here? « – not Jews (John 1:11) but his sheep (John 10:3-4, 14, 27) »

3. what will happen to these? « – Jesus is leaving, they are staying in the world; separation is about to happen »

4. what is the extent of Jesus love? « – to the very furthest limit, the end; in its practical expression here (Romans 8:38-39) »

5. what did this time during the Passover supper constitute for Judas Iscariot? « – a final opportunity for repentance; but, with his mind made up, every word and action of Christ in this supper would prod his conscience »

6. what were the “all things” given into Jesus’ hands? « – all the work of atonement (John 3:35-36); all power (Matthew 28:18); all the elect (John 17:2) »

7. what would be able to sustain Jesus through the “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani” that is, His desolation before the Father? « – He knew what went before His incarnation and after His Ascension »

8. what is in these few verses for our encouragement? – « Jesus’ love; He was sustained by a future hope, a hope that is also ours »

”But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” — ! Samuel 30:6

That which makes these words meaningful to ourselves is the point at which they occur in the personal history of David. twelve or more years earlier, Samuel had anointed David to be king after Saul. Thereafter, for a time, circumstances had seemed to be providentially paving the way. David had become Saul’s harpist and armour-bearer. Then he had slain Goliath, causing the daughters of Israel to sing, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” But from that time there seemed to be only strange reverses. Twice Saul tried to slay David, with a javelin. Then he tried in other ways. Soon David was compelled to flee. Then mad Saul hunted him like d partridge on the mountains, and poor David had a pretty hazardous time. Eventually, in an eclipse of faith, David and the warrior band who had gathered round him, evacuated to the land of the Philistines. King Achish gave them the little city of Ziklag, where David and his followers lived for sixteen months. Then came crowning tragedy. The Philistines warred against Israel again, and David felt obliged, at least outwardly, to go with them. On the eve of the encounter, however, the Philistines insisted that David and his men return to Zildag. Thus David was saved from a most awkward situation. But, oh, what an ago- nising shock awaited them back at Ziklag! Instead of wives and children to wave a welcome, the little city was burned to the ground; wives, little ones and goods all carried away captive by looting Amalekites!

Yet the very extremity of this blow became the turning point for good in David’s affairs. In his dire plight he was flung to one or the other of two alternatives — either to give up faith in God altogether, or to give up himself to God entirely, in utter trust. Now read the whole of the text: ‘And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his son’s and for his daughters: but David “encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” Yes, that became the turning-point. God gave David a new promise. Wives, children, goods were quickly recovered. Saul was slain in battle. David was welcomed as king in Judah. All this speaks, by parallel, of God’s dealings with ourselves. Afflictions and trials are sometimes allowed to accumulate without intermission, until it seems as though one more ounce of pressure, and our spirit will snap. Then, just at what seems to be the last minute, providential intervention transforms the whole picture; and oh, what lessons in trust we learn! Human help is vain. Heart and flesh fail. The one resort is the flight of the lonely heart to God.

Do we not all have such experiences? How can we meet with ten thousand him that cometh against us with twenty thousand? How can we escape our prison of trials when iron gates shut us in and the keepers stand by with drawn swords? How can we struggle on any longer now that the last handful has been scraped from the barrel? Then, in such an hour as we think not, the Son of Man cometh! Over against bereavement, failure of cherished plans, loss of material possessions, unfaithfulness of dear ones, let us do what David did. “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” Let us find unfailing refuge in

(1) His righteousness,

(2) His faithfulness,

(3) His love

(4) His promises.

Perhaps you've heard the story of Johnny Lingo, a man who lived in the South Pacific. The islanders all spoke highly of him. He was strong, good-looking, and very intelligent. But when it came time for him to find a wife, people shook their heads in disbelief. The woman Johnny chose was plain, skinny, and walked with her shoulders hunched and her head down. She was very hesitant and shy. She was also a bit older than the other married women in the village, which did nothing for her value.

But this man loved her. What surprised everyone most was Johnny's offer. In order to obtain a wife, you paid for her by giving her father cows. Four to six cows was considered a high price. The other villagers thought he might pay two or even three cows at the most. But he gave eight cows for her!!

Everyone chuckled about it, since they believed his father-in-law put one over on him. Some thought it was a mistake.

Several months after the wedding, a visitor from the United States came to the Islands to trade and heard the story of Johnny Lingo and his eight-cow wife. Upon meeting Johnny and his wife the visitor was totally taken aback, since this wasn't a shy, plain, and hesitant woman, but one who was beautiful, poised, and confident.

The visitor asked about this transformation, and Johnny Lingo's response was very simple. “I wanted an eight-cow woman, and when I paid that for her and treated her in that fashion, she began to believe that she was an eight-cow woman. She discovered she was worth more than any other woman in the islands. “And what matters most is what a woman thinks of herself.”

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Source: Christian Voices, Http://www.Christianvoices.org

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Version from Preaching Now, 1/2/07:

Bill Bouknight tells the story of a certain isolated Pacific island where it was the custom that when a young man proposed marriage, he would announce his intention to the entire village. Then he and the whole community would go to the young woman’s home. Her father would come outside and then -- in front of the community -- the father and suitor would barter. Obviously, there was no feminist movement on the island.

The main item of value on the island was the cow. Therefore, a suitor would offer the father a certain number of cows for his daughter. The average bride was worth two cows, perhaps three if she was unusually bright or attractive. The all-time record was four cows.

The most eligible bachelor on the island was Johnny Lingo. He was handsome and wealthy. Imagine all the excitement among the women of the island when Johnny announced one day that he had selected a wife. But then he shocked everyone by announcing that his choice was a girl named Lisa. Lisa was not even in the top ten. She was regarded as rather plain and frightfully shy. Some of the jokers in the crowd even suggested that Lisa’s father might pay Johnny a cow or two.

The community gathered at Lisa’s house for the bartering. Then came an even greater shock. Johnny’s opening bid for Lisa was eight cows! Her father almost fainted, but he managed to say yes. That very evening Johnny and Lisa were married. They departed for their home on an adjacent island.

For a full year no one saw Johnny and Lisa. Then on their first anniversary they returned to visit their parents. From the moment they arrived at the dock, the grapevine went ballistic with gossip. Everybody said, “Come and see Johnny and Lisa! You won’t believe it!” Everybody came, but nobody noticed Johnny. All eyes were on Lisa. She had been transformed! She was a vision of loveliness. She was poised, warm, friendly, and confident.

At the end of the day as Johnny and Lisa were preparing to return to their home, one of Johnny’s long-time friends pulled him aside and said, “I want to know the secret of this amazing transformation in Lisa. How did it happen?”

Johnny said, “I will tell you. From the time Lisa was born, she had been treated as though she was not worth very much. She had begun to believe that about herself. But I announced to the community that she was an 8-cow wife, and I have treated her just that way. She has become that vision of herself that she sees every day in my eyes.”

If you want an 8-cow wife or husband, you have to catch that vision first and then treat him or her that way. And God, the master change agent, may produce that 8-cow wife or husband that you envision!

Many people know of William Carey, the "father of modern missions." But few people have heard of his sister. She was a quadriplegic and had to be carried from bed to couch. For 50 years she lay in bed and prayed for William Carey. She wrote him encouraging letters -- with a pencil between her teeth. Her ministry was perhaps more important because she was a silent partner. Certainly William Carey realized God’s blessing was as much a result of his sister’s commitment to pray for his ministry as was his dedication to serve God.

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Dan Harrison, A Living Legacy; Preaching Now, http://www.preaching.com

Acts 23:11–30 — Plot Against Paul Foiled – (outline by F. F. Bruce, NICNT) « Leader information shown in this fashion »

{A.} The Birth of the Church (1:1–5:42)

{B.} Persecution and Expansion (6:1–9:31)

{C.} The Acts of Peter & Beginnings of Gentile Christianity (9:32-12:25)

{D.} Church Extension from Antioch & Apostolic Decree at Jerusalem (12:25–15:35)

{E.} Paul Leaves Antioch & Moves to the Aegean World (15:36–19:20)

{F.} Paul Plans to Visit Rome and Gets there by an Unforseen Route (19:21–28:31)

{1} He Prepares to Leave Ephesus for Macedonia and Achaia (19:21–20:6)

{2} The Journey to Jerusalem (20:7–21:16)

{3} Paul at Jerusalem (21:17–23:30)

A. Meeting with James and the Elders (21:17–26)

B. Riot in the Temple (21:27–30)

C. Paul Rescued by the Romans (21:31-36)

D. Paul Obtains Leave to Address the Crowd (21:37-40)

E. Paul’s Defence to the People of Jerusalem (22:1-21)

F. Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship (22:22-29)

G. Paul Brought before the Sanhedrin (22:30)

H. Paul Before the Sanhedrin (23:1-10)

1. Interchange with the high priest (23:1–5)

2. The Resurrection hope (23:6–10)

I. The Lord Appears to Paul by Night (23:11; NKJV): 11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.’

1. What needs of Paul does the Lord supply and how …

a. … in His coming? « – reassurance of the resurrection fact; that Paul has not been deceived or mistaken in his mind; comfort: the Jerusalem church could do little, but Christ the Lord was sovereign (Philippians 4:13, not yet written) »

b. … in His first words? « – encouragement; this is a formula that introduces good news (eg. Matthew 9:2, John 16:33) and corresponds to O.T. ‘Be of good courage’ (Joshua 1:6) »

c. … in His next words? « – commendation; allaying the fear, ‘did I say the right thing?’ Jesus is accepting of his testimony »

d. … in His final words? « – commission and clarification; Paul is to go to Rome, so his trip to Jerusalem validated »

2. What can we learn here about difficulties? « – they do not mark unfaithfulness, they are known to Christ, they can lead to future opportunities »

J. Plot Against Paul’s Life (23:12–15; NKJV): 12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, ‘We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.’

1. What was the law of vows (Numbers 30:1–2, Deuteronomy 23:21, Exodus 20:7) « – that it must be kept, for if not then one was guilty of sin, even of taking God’s name in vain »

2. What should be exercised respecting vows (Ecclesiastes 5:2–4): « wisdom; do not vow what you may not be able to keep (see also Proverbs 6:1–5) »

3. How does this fulfil Jesus’ prophecy in John 16:2? « – that they could make a sacred (”great”) vow to God to murder someone »

4. Why did the council accept the sicarii’s monstrous plan (John 11:49-50, 53; Matthew 28:11-15; 23:13, 23, 29-35) « – in killing Jesus they committed themselves to persecution, proving the fact of their hypocritical character as revealed by Jesus »

K. The Plot Revealed (23:16-22; NKJV): 16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, ‘Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.’ 18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, ‘Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.’ 19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside and asked privately, ‘What is it that you have to tell me?’ 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. 21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.’ 22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, ‘Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.’

1. Who was this nephew? How did he hear? Luke does not tell us. Perhaps he was being trained in Jerusalem as Paul had been; privy to the circles of the Jewish upper class. Philippians 3:8 very strongly suggests that Paul was disinherited for embracing Christianity. What evidences are there that Paul’s family was wealthy? « – they were at least second generation citizens, which could cost a great deal (500d property); they could afford to send Paul for many years to Jerusalem U. »

2. What marks Paul’s status in the barracks? « – his custody was favourable; his request to the centurion carried out quickly; the commander accommodating it without question and then accepting the young man’s witness. The last gives testimony both to Paul and to the apparent situation of his nephew. »

3. What is remarkable in the speech of the young man? « – not only is he succinct, specific and detailed in his remarks, but he does not hesitate in the least in tell the tribune what not to do! »

4. How do we know that the commander (or tribune) took the message seriously? « – his cautioning secrecy by the nephew. »

L. The Tribune Prepares to Send Paul to Caesarea (23:23–24; NKJV): 23 And he called for two centurions, saying, ‘Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.’

1. What does the commander reveal of his opinion of

a. The Jews « – that such murderous intentions were quite in keeping with their character as a people; they were fierce »

b. Paul « – that, he was indeed a citizen and was worthy of such extensive and adequate protection; no ½ measures »

2. The garrison or barracks would have at least 1,000 soldiers, and a centurion would command at least 100 soldiers; here it seems these two centurions may have had a larger command.

3. Felix’ court was civil and religion irrelevant if not conflicting with state laws; he was ruthless in dealing with Jewish troubles. Tacitus: ‘He exercised the power of a king with the mind of a slave.’

M. Letter from the Tribune to Felix (23:25–30; NKJV): 25 He wrote a letter in the following manner: 26 ‘Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. 29 I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. 30 And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.’

1. How does Claudius Lysias paint his own part in the affair? « – rather favourably, with obviously no mention of his orders to chain, and later to scourge, Paul; he makes it sound as though it was because Paul was a Roman that he rescued him, and emphasizes his own positive actions in protecting Paul »

2. Would you or I have done likewise? « – maybe; such words were more likely to give Paul a positive reception by Felix; even as Christians we tend to put ourselves in the best light if we can »

3. What did Claudius Lysias find out from the meeting with the Jewish council? « – this was not a matter of Roman law, but of the Jewish (religious) law and custom. »

4. Someone profaning the temple could be executed as we noted a few weeks ago; what do Claudius Lysias’ words in verse 29 tell us about the original charges against Paul? « – that he brought Greeks into the temple could not be substantiated »

5. Why, then send him to Felix? « – for Paul’s own protection, for he was a Roman citizen. »

6. What does this letter tell us about Luke? « – while he probably never saw this letter and report it verbatim, he was able, in setting our this orderly history, to determine and set forth both its terms and its character. »

And he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, 0 Lord, take away my life. — 1 Kings 19:4.

Discouraged! This is a good word with a bad prefix. What a sad and evil company this prefix leads. DISease, DlSgrace, DlShonor, DlStrust, DlScontent! Get out from under the juniper tree. Gird up your loins for a pilgrimage with God. Pray for the touch of the angel that your eyes may see that the hills are full of the chariots and the horsemen of God. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him and said unto him, ‘Arise and eat.’”

Lift up your heads, discouraged ones,

And be ye glad at heart,

For Calvary and the resurrection —

Earth’s saddest day and gladdest day,

Were just three days apart,

You know that Valentine’s Day is a time when love is expressed and often gifts are exchanged as tokens of affection. What you may not know is that this tradition dates to the early church and its remembrance of a man named Valentine, who was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ. Valentine, a wealthy man, visited the tomblike jails of Rome, where Christians were imprisoned. He made it his mission to encourage those facing martyrdom, by smuggling to them small gifts, always accompanied by a short note expressing love and encouragement. Valentine, devout and strong-hearted, was eventually arrested and was himself martyred in Rome about A.D. 270.

In the tradition of Valentine, let us be careful that our words and actions always build the faith and spirit of those we love.

The story is told of a couple celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. The husband was asked what the secret was to his successful marriage. The old gentleman answered with a story.

His wife, Sarah, was the only girl he ever dated. He grew up in an orphanage and worked hard for everything he had. He never had time to date until Sarah swept him off his feet. Before he knew it she had managed to get him to ask her to marry him.

After they had said their vows on their wedding day, Sarah’s father took the new groom aside and handed him a small gift. He said, “Within this gift is all you really need to know to have a happy marriage.” The nervous young man fumbled with the paper and ribbon until he got the package unwrapped.

Within the box lay a large gold watch. With great care he picked it up. Upon close examination he saw etched across the face of the watch a prudent reminder he would see whenever he checked the time of day . . . words that, if heeded, held the secret to a successful marriage. They were, “Say something nice to Sarah.” (from Stories For the Heart)

Perhaps you will remind yourself today about the power of words to bring happiness into the lives of your loved ones.

“Beware in your prayer, above everything, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He should do.” – Andrew Murray

Begin today by reading Genesis 45:1-11 (NIV): “Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me–you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’”

How did Joseph serve (”meet the needs of”) his brothers?

A number of years ago a junior high girl from Dallas, Texas named Alethia noticed that her grammar-school-aged little brother was really struggling with discouragement. Alethia decided she would write him a note of encouragement. She wrote the note but signed it, “Your Angel.” Every week for a number of years she wrote that note of encouragement for her little brother and sent it to him. After about five years he found out that it was his big sister who had been writing to him. Their father recently said, “You can’t imagine how those encouraging notes transformed my son’s life.”

It seems our families are often the most difficult people in the world to get along with and serve. Maybe that’s because we know them “warts and all,” and they know us “warts and all.” Yet, God has given us a tremendous opportunity to meets needs in the lives of those closest to us. Believe it or not, your family needs you. You can be a great encourager to your parents, your children, and also your brothers or sisters.

God wants to use you in their lives. Think about one way that you can serve someone in your family today.

Even though Rodger and Lynne Schmidt were planning to go to Africa as missionaries, they found themselves asking, “Is this really something we should be doing?”

At the same time in the same city, another couple was also wrestling with their call, though from the other end of a missionary career. Now retired, this couple was asking, “After 41 years as missionaries in Africa, who are we? Our home and life work are on another continent. What is our life all about?”

God (through a mentoring program at Denver Seminary) brought these two couples together. It was a great match. The Schmidts’ call was confirmed, and the retired couple discovered significance in their new role as mentors.

“We felt encouraged, they felt validated,” Schmidt says. Both couples experienced the benefits of mentoring.

Why do the trades have apprenticeships and medical professions require internships? Because personal attention from experienced practitioners helps learners master essential skills, attitudes, and knowledge. This, of course, is no surprise to Christians familiar with the mentoring relationships of Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Naomi and Ruth, Paul and Timothy, and Jesus and the disciples.

What is a mentor, really?

A mentor is “a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction,” according to The Uncommon Individual Foundation, an organization devoted to mentoring research and training. It reports that mentoring is the third most powerful relationship for influencing human behavior, after marriage and the extended family.

Read: Proverbs 10:11-21

The mouth of the righteous is a well of life. -- Proverbs 10:11

Not long ago, a friend wrote a lengthy account of his summers working at a mountain resort during his college years. Since I had worked there too, his stories of people, places, and events brought a flood of wonderful memories. It wasn't until I reached the end of his account that I realized something striking about what he had written. I thumbed back through the pages and began counting people. In all, he mentioned about fifty of his co-workers by name and said something positive about each one.

It caused me to ponder the impact of my words, and ask myself: "Does what I say about people bring encouragement and affirmation? Am I usually talking about what's wrong with others or what's right? Am I primarily positive or negative?"

Proverbs 10:11 describes the mouth of the righteous as "a well of life." Verse 20 calls the tongue of the righteous "choice silver." Verse 21 says "the lips of the righteous feed many." The two constants are (1) a person who is righteous -- right with God deep inside -- and (2) words that nourish and refresh others.

Like our Savior, who spoke life-giving words, we can encourage and lift the spirits of others today by what we say about them. -- DCM

Gracious Spirit, dwell with me;

I myself would gracious be;

And with words that help and heal

Would Thy life in mine reveal. -- Lynch

A well-chosen word can speak volumes.

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rbc@gospelcom.net (c)1998 RBC Ministries -- Grand Rapids, MI 49555

If you’ve ever been in the wilderness, you know it can be a lonely place. And that’s when we most need the encouragement of a friend.

1 Samuel tells the dramatic story of David’s rise to Israel’s throne as the anointed king. But if you’re familiar with the story, you know it’s full of twists and turns. David is anointed by the prophet Samuel while still a very young man, and years go by before he is established as king. In the meantime, Saul is still on the throne, even though God had made clear his rejection of the Benjamite king.

By the time we get to chapter 23, Saul has massacred an entire Israelite town, Nob, and slaughtered all the priests with the exception of Abiathar, who manages to escape to David. Meanwhile, David is saving God’s people at Keilah from the plundering raids of Philistine troops, only to then discover that if they have the chance they will deliver over their heroic redeemer to Saul.

So there he is, in the wilderness, reeling from an avalanche of difficulties.

What did Jonathan do? He “rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God” (1 Sam 23:16). What does that mean? I like how the CSB translates the same verse: he “encouraged him in his faith in God.”

First, meaningful encouragement is personal.

While Saul cannot seem to track down David, Jonathan has no such difficulty. However, it was no small thing for Jonathan to make the journey from Gibeah to Horesh. David had been labeled a traitor to the crown, an enemy of the state, and someone to be killed upon sight. To put it mildly, he is not someone the crown prince is supposed to be hanging around.

But Jonathan made the trip to Horesh.

Don’t discount the impact of personal encouragement. We should all be grateful for the many ways in which we can offer and receive encouragement in our day. It can mean so much to receive a kind text message, a phone call or especially a hand-written note of encouragement from a friend when we most seem to need it. And we should have no reluctance to make use of those opportunities.

But there is something extraordinarily powerful when encouragement comes in person. When’s the last time you went out of your way to seek someone out to offer them a word of encouragement in person? Jonathan could have sent a messenger to Horesh, to relay a word to his friend, but he did not. He made sure to get there and to show up in person. That’s what friends do. Whenever you can, be there in person.

Second, meaningful encouragement is timely.

It’s hard to miss this in the story, but Jonathan’s encouragement comes at a key moment. David has just discovered that the residents of Keilah will betray him if given the opportunity and has had to flee into the wilderness. He has sought to honor the Lord, to deliver his people and to obey his calling. And yet here he is, with his troops, back in the wilderness, away from home, family and comfort. And it seems that the promise of the kingdom is no closer than it was before. Can you imagine the discouragement of that experience?

As we read along, we know that the resident of Ziph would proactively seek to betray David, sending emissaries to Saul at Gibeah with a preemptive offer of full cooperation in arresting the future king. Sandwiched between these two episodes, David’s friend arrives in Horesh at an urgent moment, when he’s most in need of encouragement.

In our own lives, there can be a temptation to be passive, failing to offer encouragement. We might merely miss the opportunity (although late is better than never!). Or perhaps we are tempted to think that someone else closer will surely be there to offer encouragement.

Don’t underestimate the impact your encouragement might have in someone’s life today. Rather than putting it off, who is God calling you to strengthen today?

Third, meaningful encouragement is godly.

Encouragement can come in person and at the right time, but still ring hollow. True encouragement that strengthens faith must be godly. Or perhaps we might say, it must be godward.

Jonathan did not come to Horesh to give David a pep talk. He did not arrive with a commiserating indictment about Saul’s wickedness. He did not boost David with a recital of all of his impressive accomplishments and clear qualifications to rule.

No, true encouragement points us to God and His promises. When the text says that he strengthened his hand in the Lord, it’s clear that this is the case when we consider the summary of Jonathan’s own message: “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.”

These two friends then renewed their covenant of friendship before the Lord, and Jonathan returned home to Gibeah.

But Jonathan left David stronger because he reminded his friend of God’s promises. Among the people of God, there is no better encouragement we can give than to remind one another of the promises our Heavenly Father has made to us in His Word.

But what do you do when it seems there’s no one near and encouragement seems sparse? The apostle Paul knew that feeling. Writing of his own suffering and persecution, he explained it this way to Timothy:

“At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it” (2 Timothy 4:16-17, CSB).

Godly friends who provide encouragement and strength are a gift from the Lord. But the good news is that even when friends fail or disappear, Jesus still stands with His own. What a friend we have in Jesus, indeed. By His Spirit and His Word, he will strengthen and empower for what He calls us to do.

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Matthew Hall is provost of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary