2 Kings 3:1-4:17 / Acts 14:8-28 / Psalm 140 / Proverbs 17:22
The Church – Jesus’ Bride – the body of Christ – those who are followers of Jesus – this group of people has an awesome responsibility to one another. When you first said “yes” to Jesus calling your name and wanting to forgive and heal you, you may not have realized you were becoming part of a large, global family. You may not have been aware that you were gaining mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. These are now your blood relatives because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross.
You’re aware of your birth family (if you’re blessed to have them as a healthy part of your life – not everyone has this blessing) and how you fit into the order of that unit. But being aware of how you fit into the body of Christ is a little more complex. The complexity comes when you realize you have a responsibility to love and encourage those who are part of this Christ family. It is your role to speak life, health, and peace over this new family.
Sadly, some parts of Jesus’s body are not aware of this task of strengthening others and they inadvertently tear the body apart, damaging and wounding those Christ loves. We all have times when we hurt others. The important part to remember is that once you’re aware you’ve hurt another, ask their forgiveness. It takes humility to be part of this large family because we will not always get it right.
Today as I read I was intrigued by a portion from Acts 14:22. …where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
Paul and Barnabas are strengthening others, doing as they were sent to do. And those who are receiving strength are the new believers in each town Paul and Barnabas have visited. What does it look like to strengthen someone? Or to encourage someone to continue in the faith? We’re going to look at this further because I believe this is the role of every believer. We must always seek to strengthen and encourage those in our Jesus family!
Strengthen is to establish, render more firm or confirm. This sounds like foundation building, which is setting Truth in place that can be built upon. So, I will call this the foundation of a person’s “building”. These are the Truths that are unshakeable in the Christian’s life. These are the things spoken of in The Apostle’s Creed, which we have discussed before. In short, our foundation is built upon Jesus Christ and everything He did by coming to earth.
Encourage is to call to one’s side, to comfort, to speak to, instruct, teach. In this definition I’m envisioning the building being constructed upon the foundation that has been built. But it’s more than someone telling us what to do. There is a definite connotation of someone standing with another to help them understand, to lift them when they are weak, and to cheer them on to great success. This is the part where we invest in one another’s lives because we want to see the other person become everything we know God has called them to be.
Therefore, when I enter the family of God, it is no longer that I’m looking out for myself only. Now, I must learn to feed myself, but I must also learn to feed others with what I’ve been given. Philippians 2:4 states Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
In the world, we are interested only in how we can get ahead. In the body of Christ, it is our honor to mind both our own growth and to encourage the growth of our God-family. If my sister or brother is not growing, I must ask God what I can do to help. Sometimes I am asked to pray, sometimes to speak, and sometimes to walk with. Whatever my role in the growth of another, it’s a blessing to be part of that one knowing Jesus more!
