What…

To me, encouragement feels the same as love, it follows so close behind it feels like it is love. But love is the fuel and encouragement is the vehicle. We are all called to love… we can choose to drive/ride in the Ministry of Encouragement.

If we look up encouragement in a Thesaurus, synonyms like advocacy, assistance, boost, cheer, consolation, easement, faith, helpfulness, hope, reassurance, refreshment, relief, supporting show themselves to have the attitude of “lifting up”. When we seek to love, we seek to do any and/or all of these things because these things and more are what love does.

This ministry of love… the ministry of encouragement, is what Jesus, Himself prayed for.

Luke 22:32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Yes, He was talking specifically to Peter but God tells us the same.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

And the Holy Spirit confirms with the fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

If we seek to love as God loves, if we seek to become ministers of the love of Christ, then encouragement will follow. We all will be “lifted up”.

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible