To Encourage You

1 Timothy 4:13 “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”

The Word of God is a powerful thing. Romans 1:16 says it is the very “power of God for salvation of everyone who believes.” God’s Word is so powerful that with it He created the universe. Jesus simply spoke to Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, and by the power of that word, Lazarus arose. Throughout Scripture we are given metaphors to help us understand this power as the Scripture calls itself “a sharp double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), “a mirror” that can reveal the inner secrets of the heart (James 1:23), a powerful light (Psalms 119:105), “a fire, and “a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces” (Jeremiah 23:29). But like any of these things, the power of God’s Word is made known only as it is put to use. Thus, Paul’s instruction to Timothy in the verse above.

Paul urges Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of the Scripture, but not to just stop at the reading. He was to go on to using the words he read to exhort and teach those with whom he shared it. The Greek word translated “exhortation” in this verse is sometimes translated “comfort” in other places in the Bible. But the idea of comfort is not to say soothing words to someone, as we sometimes think of it. It is from the root “com” which means “with” and “forte,” which means “to strengthen.” In other words, when we exhort or comfort another person in this way, we come alongside them to be with them, and we speak words to them that give them strength in a time of need. That is one of the powerful aspects of God’s Word that is demonstrated when we put it to use in the way God intends us to. That’s one of the most wonderful benefits of reading and studying the Word of God. It is in so doing that we are equipped to strengthen others by reminding them of the Truth when they may be assaulted by the lies that can afflict the mind in the midst of trials. It is in such times that thoughts of hopelessness and despair can assault us, but God’s Word has the power to confront those thoughts and bring hope and peace in the midst of any storm. Paul puts it this way in Romans 15:4: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement (this is that same word – “comfort”) of the Scriptures we might have hope.” So, if we want to be an instrument of hope to a world that needs it so badly, we need to immerse our minds in the Word of God. By so doing we are equipped to come alongside others in their suffering, and speak words of Truth that can bring strength to their soul.

But not only is the Word powerful in its ability to equip us to help others, it also equips us to speak words of encouragement to ourselves. As I recently read in the writing of the late British Pastor Martin Lloyd Jones, so often we tend to “listen” to ourselves in times of trouble rather than to “speak” to ourselves. In other words, it is so often in times of trouble that anxious and fearful thoughts can come into our minds. If we dwell on such thoughts, they tend to compound themselves and drive us deeper down and thereby weaken our resolve to endure. It is at such times the we should take God’s Word and “preach to ourselves” with its powerful truths. It is then that such mighty promises as Romans 8:28 can bring great comfort and peace. This verse tells the Christian, “we know that for those who love God all things (and that means all things) work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” In times of trial we can speak to ourselves with these words about our Good Shepherd, from Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” And we can speak to ourselves with these powerful and awesome words from Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

What powerful words these are which we can speak both to ourselves and to others around us. And that’s what God’s Word is: words of comfort from the One Who calls Himself “the God of all comfort Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians1:3-4).