Why Encouragement?
I confess that I have been trying to start writing this blog for several hours now. Instead, I have been handling a wide variety of urgent ministry needs. All things that couldn’t wait. For this IBG ministry, for my GlobalFingerprints role, and for my home church. It’s been a crazy afternoon! I just commented to my wife that it is as if some malevolent being was hindering me from this important task. You see, I was planning to write on encouragement, and I’m starting to write now, somewhat discouraged.
Do not, however be dismayed. I think the entire afternoon experience has actually provided clarity on the importance of encouragement. So let us begin. We live in a broken world. Nothing works as the Creator designed it to because of sin. John 16:33 (NIV) states “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Trouble – in THIS WORLD – is normal. Satan is roaming to and fro causing mayhem. Non-stop mayhem.
That verse goes on to give a marvelous promise. And yes, Christ has overcome Satan, and death, but how do we cope with this messy world while we await the restoration of creation? What about today? First, God gave each one of us agency. The ability to act. We can act by throwing up our hands in despair or we can apply our agency to help each other navigate this broken world.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV): states "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching". We can easily view this verse as simply a “nice to do”, when in reality it is a plea during a time of heavy persecution to make it a life habit to show up for each other. There is a lot in there. Meeting one another is an intentional act. Encouraging one another is an intentional act.
We live in a monochronic culture, so we read “all the more as you see the day approaching” as a measure of a time, like a countdown. But the Greek was not indicating time frame. It was inferring a posture of urgency, that the perceived reality of our situation calls for ever increasing diligence. It’s a call to persistent action in light of our immediate circumstances.
We are involved in placing Bibles directly into strongholds that the evil one does not want us to invade. Now, while we are using our agency to work on these Bible placements, we are not working through our power but rather that of God’s. It’s His work of restoration. Still, we would be profoundly naive to expect Satan to ignore the invasion. We will all be opposed. We must, then, all of us, encourage one another. Pray for one another. Lift each other up.
Earlier this week, I used my agency. We have many new brothers and sisters in Christ in a certain Muslim nation, and they are persecuted greatly for their decision to accept life. But what can I do? I’m not there and we struggle just to raise enough funds for all the Bible requests we receive. I cannot fund an intervention. But I know a ministry to the persecuted church, and I used relationship to connect our ministry partner in that nation to this ministry that could help.
We met. Electronically, but we met. We shared about the harvest, the changed lives, the abuse, the lack of resources. We prayed for each other. Lifted each other up. Made plans for what we could do, as opposed to throwing up our hands. As I reflect on what has been a chaotic week, I am encouraged. Our ministry partner, who lives in the same brokenness he did a few days ago, is greatly encouraged.
Give Hope! Give Life! Give Bibles!
Chuck Hayes