“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to a rural part of the Philippines and meet with fellow followers of Jesus with the express purpose of training them for the work of evangelism and starting new churches. We sought to “stir them up” with our visit, which we hoped would be a shot in the arm to their efforts in outreach in their communities. I expected that our formal efforts at training and teaching would be well received, but what stood out to me most was their basic need of encouragement. Many of our brothers and sisters in Jesus were discouraged when we arrived. They are used to being harassed by others for their faith and looked down upon because they are from the mountains and not sophisticated like the people in the city. 

What I didn’t realize when I agreed to the trip was how a visit from their brothers and sisters from America would affect them. Our visit and our listening and our kind words told them that they were loved and cared for. Our sacrifice in coming across the world told them that they were important. Our telling them that we believed in them and that we were proud of them fired them up!

From what I’ve heard so far, our visit stirred them up and they are moving forward with acts of love and good works in their villages! What I take away from this is the truth is that we all need encouragement.  Living by faith can be hard. We can get discouraged from time to time. As Christians we all need the church to rally around us and tell us that we are on the right path and that we shouldn’t give up.

We all need to be reminded that Jesus is coming back and that it’s ok if life doesn’t go our way in the short term for we have an eternal home and inheritance to look forward to. Like those believers in the Philippines, YOU need encouragement! And likewise, the other members and attenders of your church need to be encouraged by you.

We need not just encouragement from the church, but a positive push to do what is loving and good. In our day it is all too easy to become isolated from the family of faith, which is a problem because I’ve come to believe that a lone Christian usually means a weak Christian or a struggling Christian. The Christian life was never designed by God to be lived alone – we are called to be in fellowship with other believers. We were given spiritual empowerments in order to serve each other and build each other up so you can’t truly be obedient to Jesus living in isolation because he expects you to be ministering to your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Have you been neglecting the people of Jesus? Have you drifted away from Jesus’ church because of a busy life? Start meeting a brother in Christ for coffee again. Get back involved with that Bible study.  Make the attendance at a worship service a weekly priority to honor God and worship him, but also in order to stay connected and close to your church family. Close and regular fellowship is not just a suggestion but is a vital habit, essential to our faith.

If you are already engaged relationally with your church family, look for ways to encourage the brethren. Consider how you might stir them up to love others and do good towards others. If you are intentional you will have a positive impact. 

Pastor Jeron Parkins

Living Water Bible Fellowship