Thursday: Encourage Each Other to Good Works
Even with the best motivations and intentions, and believing that we are on the side of God and goodness, working for the Lord can be difficult and discouraging. The sadness and pain of our world are real. This is one reason we need a church community. Jesus modeled this kind of supportive community with His disciples. He rarely sent people out on their own, and even when that happened they would soon come together again to share their stories and renew their energy and courage.
Read Hebrews 10:23-25. Hebrews 10:25 is the best known of these verses, so what do the preceding two verses add to our understanding of the well-known verse? What are some of the ways in which we can encourage each other “toward love and good deeds” (NIV)?
Encourage Each Other
In almost any task, cause, or project, a group of people working together can achieve more than all of those people working individually. This reminds us again of the picture of the church as the body of Christ (see Rom. 12:3-6), in which we all have different but complementary roles to play. When we each do what we do best, but do it in a way that allows our influences to work together, we can trust by faith that our lives and work will make a difference for eternity.
While results are important when seeking to do what is right—the results are about people and their lives—we sometimes have to trust God with what the results might be. At times when working to alleviate poverty, to protect the vulnerable, to free the oppressed, and to speak up for the voiceless, we will see little progress. But we have the hope that we are working in a far greater and inevitably victorious cause: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:9-10, NIV, see also Heb. 13:16).
This is why we are called to encourage—literally, to inspire with courage—one another. Living faithfully is both joyous and difficult. Our God of justice and our community of justice are our greatest supports and what we invite others to join.
| Whom do you know or know of who regularly works at alleviating the suffering of others? How could you encourage that person or group in the good work they are doing? |
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Today’s lesson asks:
As I travel around and visit churches, I regularly see people who are involved with helping others in the course of their weekly life. When you confidentially listen to others and discreetly ask appropriate questions, you soon discover this.
Here is a suggestion for consideration.
List 3 people you know who are involved in helping others. If you don’t know 3 people, be appropriately intentional about listening to people next time you attend your church, Sabbath School class or small group, etc.
Ask each of those 3 people if you can uphold them regularly in prayer to support what they are doing. And ask them if there is anything specific they would also like you to pray for on their behalf. Keep this information appropriately confidential and share it only with God.
Then, if it is appropriate and you are able, ask each person if there is anything else they need to help support what they are doing. If they suggest some things you can’t do, ask them if it is ok to discretely ask around and see if perhaps someone else may be able to assist.
There already is much going on within your church that passes unnoticed. I would invite you to be intentional about discreetly noticing and responsibly supporting what is already being done.
As someone who is used of God to minister to suffering people on a daily basis, I know the greatest thing I need is people who will ongoingly uphold me and the people I am trying to help in prayer because I can’t do what I do without absolute reliance upon God. And there are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) more like me.
Often, while working in the field of health, it is possible to alleviate pain and suffering. Also, to have patience with traumatized people and helping them to cope with that while encouraging them to overcome their fear can be gratifying too.
Acts 8:26-40
The Spirit tells Philip to go over join the chariot.
He listens to the reading by the Eunuch.
He asks the Eunuch, Do you understand what you read?
Please don't assume, we might be talking to the expert on the subject.
Then he explains the verse.
When the Eunuch was baptized, the Spirit took him to other parts of the world to spread the gospel.
The Spirit takes a person to a place of need.
I have seen this happen many times in my life.
My wife had a friend in Ohio.
We would travel almost six hours once or twice a month and visited them.
Then after about two years it came to a stop abruptly.
Whenever we meet our friend, they would say, you came when we needed you the most.
God places us in certain place for a season.
Be listening to him for your next mission field assignment.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
It's easy to work for those we know who appreciates our help but it should be a joy to work for those who are unappreciative...knowing that it's to Christ to whom we are directly offering our service...not man.
At times "we become too easily discouraged over the souls who do not at once respond to our efforts. Never should we cease to labor for a soul while there is one gleam of hope. Precious souls cost our self-sacrificing Redeemer too dear a price to be lightly given up to the tempter’s power". The Ministry of Healing, pp. 168, 169.
How many hours do we spend every day, every week, every year trying to improve ourselves to have a better life...compare this to how many hours we spend trying to improve others; to encourage others to good works, to be that supporting hand to the one who needs our support! and according to Gal. 6:9,10
"especially to those who belong to the family of believers”
Have a blessed day encouraging others to good works!
The Holy Ghost helps people to do good works.
Many times people do good works but no one or few know about it. In some churches there is the card that is used to say how many food baskets distributed for the week, clothes given away, money, volunteers work etc, etc. But some look at this as salvation by works or as others boasting what they have done then they find a text to match it. As a result they kill the spirit of the struggling brothers or sisters. While I know some might be lying sometimes we need to let things be placed in the hands of Jesus, he will deal with the liars.
Pray for missionaries and support if possible.
“We need to learn to think more highly of others, and less of self. There are many who seem to find satisfaction in dwelling upon the errors of others. They feel, when a brother’s faults are revealed and reproved, that their own faults, in contrast, are not so great, and will not be the subject of disapproval. This is the spirit of Satan. He is represented as standing before the throne, acting as an accuser of the brother. He presents before God The sins that his people are committing, seeking to excuse his own sin, and hoping that God will not pardon the guilty, for whom Christ has died. But the converting power of God comes down to earth who profess His name, as a pledge of His willingness to pardon and receive the soul that is truly penitent.... God for bid that we should make the pathway of other weary travelers harder by magnifying your errors, and by sitting in judgment upon their actions. God help us, that we may speak words of encouragement and hope and courage.” (Review and Herald, 8/28/1888.) We must always put others before self and encourage them in their endeavors.