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Over the course of the next several days I’m going to write our “gospel-sanity devos” around the theme of encouragement. It’s pretty startling, (and encouraging!), to open a concordance and discover how many Scriptures there are commanding and commending a life of encouragement. In fact, as we notice in our Scripture of the day, encouragement is a heart-art we are to practice with one another daily.
What is encouragement? Let’s start by considering what it is not. Encouragement is not flattery or crafting words simply to make someone feel good about themselves. Encouragement is not taking responsibility for making someone happy or rescuing them from the blues. Encouragement is not telling someone only what they want to hear. Encouragement is not spinning difficult situations. Encouragement is not promising things God has not promised.
Rather, encouragement is the heart-art of coming along side of someone to offer the comfort, counsel and consolation of the gospel. This is what is implied in the Greek word for encouragement, parakalleo. Little wonder, then, that Hebrews chapter 3 begins admonishing us to “fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.” For in Jesus we find the fountainhead and supply of all encouragement.
Jesus is the great King who comes along side of us giving us his strength right in the middle of the chaos and challenges of life. Jesus is the trustworthy Prophet who alone speaks the words of hope and perspective that we need. Jesus is the wonderful merciful high priest who consoles us and comforts us as none other. No one and no thing can encourage us like Jesus.
While it is early in this day, let’s fix our thoughts, set our gaze and center our hearts on Jesus. And then let us encourage one another, with his grace and for his glory.

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