Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

A Ministry For All

ROMANS 1:7–12 – To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”

 

THEME OF THE DAY. A MINISTRY FOR ALL.  Imagine getting a personal letter from the greatest Christian ever to live who wrote about half of the New Testament.  When we open the letter, we read these words, “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 8:11-12).  Wow!  Paul wants to be with us!  And not to give a one-way conversation instructing us in the Christian life.  He actually wants to receive spiritual encouragement from us!  What a word of affirmation and help that would be!

 

We learn much from this short introduction from the Apostle.  First, all Christians are to be active in the ministry of encouragement to other Christians.  Paul never saw himself as separate and above others.  Yes, he was most used of God, and no one would have a greater role in Christianity.  Yet, he knew his responsibility, relationship, and need to give spiritual encouragement to others.  So must we, and it is also a command to obey – But, encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception (Hebrews 3:13).  One of the reasons for hardening of a believer’s heart is the failure to be actively encouraging others.  Sound harsh? Read the Hebrews text again.  Does it not teach that obeying the command to encourage one another is a means to prevent a hard heart?  This is a strong motivator but the greater is our love for fellow believers.

 

The second instruction we receive from the Apostle Paul is no matter how spiritually mature we may think we are, the need to receive helpful encouragement is present.  Not flattery or false praise, but genuine encouragement that lifts us up in fierce battles we face each day.  We really do need one another.  God has ordained the Christian life to be one of mutual dependence.

 

A ministry for all?  Yes!  The ministry of encouragement.  After all, we receive it from the Lord Jesus, and what we receive we are to freely give.

 

PRAYER: “Father, help me to care for Your people with words and deeds of encouragement.”

 

QUOTE: “Encouraging others is a ministry that is easy for all but sadly neglected just as easily.”

 

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

 

Pastor Jim