When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. Acts 11:23
When running a long-distance race, it can get lonely on the path. One often gets separated from everyone else running but must keep going in order to finish the race. Pain sets in causing one to want to slow down or completely stop. Having someone alongside to encourage one to keep running will give one strength to keep going and finish the race.
Luke writes in the book of Acts about how Barnabas was sent to Antioch to see the believers there. When he was that God was among them, he encouraged them to keep going with the Lord and not give up.
The world knows how to encourage someone to keep moving forward. Stadiums are filled with fans of sports teams that will scream and shout encouragement for their favorite team to win the game. Arenas are filled with people shouting encouragement to entertainers to continue to perform.
Without encouragement, it can be difficult to keep moving forward. Troubles rise and obstacles get in the way to slow a person down or stop the person. The higher the danger, the easier it is to stop.
Walking the path God has a person on can be difficult. The world is fighting against the believer, doing everything it can to stop the believer. Times may come when the believer feels completely alone.
This is where believers need to encourage other believers to keep walking with God. All it takes is a phone call or text message to build a believer up to keep moving forward, reminding each other of the promises of God and of the hope that they have in Christ Jesus.
There are times you have a friend or an acquaintance that is going through a difficult time and wants to stop or give up. Go to that person and be an encourager that that person should continue in the Lord. Remind that person of the promises of God and what God has already brought that person through. Build the person up in the Lord so that one will have strength to keep going in the Lord. Do not force the person to walk alone but remain alongside as an encourager.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal people you can encourage and build up in the Lord Jesus Christ; that others will encourage you in the Lord in your times of need; and that you will continue to walk the path God as you on with the Lord.
Photo by Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash
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