To Encourage You

Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”

The love of believers towards other believers is like nothing else on earth. It is reflected in the words of the Bible like those that the apostle Paul wrote in his letters to the various churches throughout Asia Minor.  He tells the believers at Philippi, for example, that they are his brothers, that he loves them and longs for them, and that thoughts of them bring joy to his heart.  What a joy and blessing this would have been to these people.  

Have you ever written to other believers to tell them such things?  Is this your language toward them?  Is your heart so overwhelmed with the joy of being in the family of God together with them that of the abundance of your heart your mouth speaks these things?  If it is, you can be sure that you have blessed people greatly by your words.  What a wonderful privilege to be used of God to not only share our love for others but also God’s love for people through our words.  

It is the Holy Spirit that lived in Paul’s heart that was speaking the words above to the church at Philippi. It was God himself speaking to them through Paul. God Himself wants to bless people through His words both that have been written in the Scriptures but also overflowing from the hearts of the people He loves for the people He loves.

So, when’s the last time you have blessed someone unexpectedly with a note to them that relays your love for them and your joy in knowing them.  A few words fitly spoken can bless someone for the rest of their life. Solomon likened such beautiful words to “apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).  

May God give us the grace to make the most of every opportunity to bless people by our lives and words.