Encourage and Strengthen

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN

Acts 15:30-35

30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.   35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

NIV

Four men were sent to deliver a letter. That might have been a little of overkill in some sense, but perhaps Silas and Judas, being prophets were sent to also bear witness to the authenticity of the letter. After the people read it they were glad, considering they were not going to be burdened with circumcision. However, on the other hand, having those four requirements does not seem encouraging to us. The challenge is in the Greek word translated here as encouraged. Paraklesis  can mean comfort, as the Paraletos is the comforter. However, Paraklesis in the sense of encouragement can be seen as exhortation, imploration, or consolation. Was it that they were glad for the rules, or because the rules meant no circumcision? We also have another form of this same word used when Luke describes what occurred when Silas and Judas shared their message that was encouraging and strengthening the brothers. Once again, we can see the need to use words that encourage and strengthen others. Too often it might seem that we use our words for other things. We can use criticizing words or words to gossip. We can use our words to tear down instead of buildup, which we are admonished to build each other up until we reach unity in the faith. Judas and Silas were all about building up this church in Antioch, encouraging them, and strengthening them in their faith in Jesus Christ. This is the task of each believer and not just those who are prophets which can be seen as a foretelling, or as an inspired speaker. Perhaps we all need more of the inspiration of the Spirit when we speak to others so that we would be encouraging and strengthen those we speak to. But if we are simply using our own choice of words which stem from our feelings, or emotions which are basically self-motivated, self-centered, and primarily serve self-interests, then most likely those words will do something other than encouraging and strengthening. We notice that after the people were encouraged and strengthened by Silas and Judas, they sent them on their way with a blessing of peace. Mutual love and respect follow the right words, division, dissension, pain, anguish, or hurt feelings usually follow the wrong words. Let us consider that what comes from our mouths is a reflection of what is in our hearts. If our heart is right, then our words will be right and encourage and strengthen.