Why does it seem so hard to encourage others? We often find ourselves criticizing people for what we think they should have done rather than encouraging them for what they have been doing. The book of Acts tells us that the first-century believers had “all things in common” but also that they “sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” (Acts 2:45). Encouragers are busy performing while critics are busy pretending. One who encourages others sees a need and attempts to meet that need at their own expense. Not seeking recognition, they simply want to minister to the needs of others. The question that leaves us with is, “How do we perform when all around us are pretending? We need to have our eye on the master not the servants. 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” We must remember that we own nothing but are stewards of everything that we have. Giving is not a matter of doing without; Giving is a matter of stewardship of the things given to us … READ MORE

When most people, who have achieved great things, tell their stories, they mention those who encouraged them along the way. I remember as a young pastor, a local pastor called me and because an encourager to me. He invested 12 years in encouraging me as I served in my first ministry. I am today a better man and pastor because of his ministry in my life. The New Testament tells of a man who distinguished himself as an encourager, and motivator of others. The man’s name was “Joses’ (Acts 4:36), and his story is wrapped up in the exciting details that describe the first-century church in the book of Acts. This man was such an incurable motivator that the apostles finally changed his name from Joses to “Son of Consolation” – Barnabas! The shape of the church was changed by this man as he became the chief supporter of a man named, Saul, who becomes the great apostle to the Gentiles and changed his name to Paul. We never know who it is that we are impacting by kind words, and actions. Take time today to be a “Son of Consolation” to someone today! … READ MORE

Why is it that we are either easy on ourselves, justifying our behavior, or hard on ourselves, judging ourselves harshly? In 1 Corinthians 4:3b-5 Paul writes that we need to be careful of our evaluations, because the only evaluation that really matters is the Lord’s. The mature servant of the Lord does not trust his own judgment any more than he trusts the judgment of others. Paul knew of no serious sin or deficiency in his own life and ministry; but he also knew his evaluation was limited by his finite understanding. He was neither proud of the fact that he knew of nothing wrong, nor was he worried that he might have overlooked some fault. According to verse 5, the only evaluation that mattered to Paul was the Lord’s. He says, “[the Lord] will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” Those two phrases refer to the things only God can see, the things hidden from the knowledge of other men, and even our own hearts. It is such a comfort to know that every believer will have praise on that day, for “there is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION … READ MORE