Encouragement

  

DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

ENCOURAGEMENT

Acts 13:13-15

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."

NIV

We have been given a short travel log so far, with a very detailed visit to Pisidian Antioch. Looking at maps we find this city in the area of Galatia near the cities of Lystra and Iconium. It is interesting that as they sat down in the synagogue, and after the reading from the law and the Prophets the rulers sent word to them. How big was this synagogue that the rulers could not ask Paul and Barnabas themselves, instead of sending word, which would have been via a servant of the synagogue? Nevertheless, the rulers must have known or heard about Paul and Barnabas, for it would seem a little odd to invite a stranger to stand and speak to the whole assembly. However, the invite was not to preach but to have a word of encouragement for the people. That is the key word in that began a very well-constructed message of the good news about Jesus. What can be more encouraging than telling someone they can have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ? Still, this keyword, encouragement has a lesson for us. Whenever we are invited to say something, we should use words that encourage or as the Greek word also carries the meaning of exhortation, which means we should encourage people toward doing that which is right. This is not the encouragement as in applause, “You’re doing a good job”, but rather to encourage to exhort to do the good thing, of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Still, encouragement to do right is always the best type of speaking. All too often we do not encourage each other in the faith. Instead, we fill our conversations with the mundane things of this life, sports, celebrities, politics, weather, or possible just gossip about someone doing bad instead of good, or whatever else can fill silence other than a word of encouragement, Maybe it would be better to talk about our faith or give a testimony of what God has done in our lives, sharing the good news about living as citizens of the kingdom of God. We could encourage, exhort, which is almost to urge someone toward righteousness, toward their walk with the Lord. Let us be encouragers.