Encourage and Strengthen

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN

Acts 18:23-28

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

NIV

We are introduced in this passage to the disciple Apollos, a native of Alexandria. One of the truths we observe is that Paul was going from place to place, strengthening all the disciples. Could that not be the call on all of us within the community of faith? We are supposed to build each other up and encourage one another, which, in essence, strengthens us. The best way to do that is with the word of God. We can speak flattering words, tell us how good we are, or how nice we look, or what good things we do in the church, but that is not strengthening, encouraging, or building up. The word of God builds us up, encourages us, and strengthens our character and our relationship with the Lord. That was what Paul was doing, as we also see Apollos, who had been instructed in the way of the Lord, speaking with great fervor and teaching accurately about Jesus. Because he was not aware of the baptism of the Spirit, only of John's baptism, Priscilla and Aquila explained to him the way of God more adequately; in other words, they encouraged, strengthened, and built Apollos up so that he could be more fully engaged in the truth. Because they strengthened Apollos in the ways of God, he became a great help to those who by grace believed. That should be our story. We should be speaking to each other about the word of God so that we strengthen, encourage, and build each other up, so that we can go help others who, by grace, believe. We can say many things from our humanity, our opinions, our thoughts, but it is the word of God that does the work of strengthening, encouraging, and building up. We wonder what the ratio of our words is, between talking about all the things in this world, such as the weather, sports, hobbies, the latest scandal, gossip, or about our aches and pains, and talking about the word of God. Although many subjects in the world can be of interest, only the word of God instructs, encourages, strengthens, and builds us up. Should we not speak more about the truth of Jesus? Should we not encourage each other?