Encouraged Them
Scripture: Acts 20:1-6
1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week. (Acts 20:1-6 NLT)
Paul had spent two years evangelizing and discipling Christ-followers in Ephesus. He had developed deep and rich relationships with the believers in that church and was well-known throughout the city for his boldness for Jesus Christ. The time in Ephesus wasn’t without its challenges. In fact, Acts 19 tells of a riot set off by the leaders of the idol-making guild accusing Paul and his friends of destroying the local tourist economy by turning people from idolatry to faith in Jesus!
During Paul’s two years with the Ephesian believers, he encouraged them. When he prepared to leave, he encouraged them. When he visited the churches of Macedonia and Greece on his journey, he encouraged them. Paul “encouraged” the people he influenced. His mentor Barnabas “The Encourager” taught him that!
People get discouraged. They get discouraged by the financial challenges they face. They get discouraged by difficult relationships. They get discouraged by harmful things others are doing that they have little or no control over. They get discouraged by criticism and lack of appreciation. They get discouraged by their own weaknesses and failures. I get discouraged, too. Don’t you?
People need to be encouraged. I want to encourage my wife and kids. I want to encourage the people I work with. I want to encourage the pastors and congregations of the churches we interact with. I want to encourage the people we know and love around the world. I’m determined to be an encourager. Are you an intentional encourager? Are you in need of encouragement? May God send you an encourager and make you an encourager today!
Prayer:
Father, May I be an encourager to others. May my words and my actions put fresh courage into those whose courage has ebbed away or been stolen by tough challenges and inconsiderate people. Please help my friends and me to be encouragers. Amen.