Spur one another on to love and good deeds

Here I am again writing on encouraging the saints, but how can we do this if we don’t feel like it or are in pain ourselves?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings so also you are sharers of our comfort."
1 Corinthians 1:3-7

Most of the time it is naturally easy to share our joys with others. Sharing our testimony of pain, though, leaves us vulnerable, but it shows the hearer that you are trusting in the LORD for the outcome. Allowing others to see the testimony of someone who has shared their pain, shown their continued obedience to the LORD throughout an extended period of time, and then seen eventual answered prayers, glorifies God.

Every day there are trials. Every day we need to seek the LORD’s face. In my own experience with God’s people, I continually see hurts. When a friendly gesture or an offered prayer is shown, what I have always witnessed is gratefulness. We are needy people who desperately need to be reminded often that God is in control no matter what the circumstances.

I again implore each of you to get out there in person, on the phone, on e-mail, or standard mail and start building up each other in the LORD. The LORD will help you with His strength and oh, how His name will be glorified.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25