{Be Encouraged} Encouraging and Admonishing

By Kristina Hurd

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Today I was thinking about the word encouragement and I realized that I’ve never actually written a post on the subject! I am sure all of us could come up with a story to illustrate what encouragement looks like in our daily lives – getting a note in the mail, a kind word from a friend or stranger, inspirational quotes on pinterest or reading over our favorite bible verses. Being encouraged can most often times be related to a feeling of peace, joy or even rest. I think we can all agree that most of the time we greatly appreciate encouragement!

What I want to talk about today is a little different than your “average” encouragement as we usually think about it. I would like to talk about the kind of encouragement that cries with the hurt and lonely and rejoices in times of gladness, the kind of encouragement that speaks love and admonition even if it is uncomfortable, the kind of encouragement that loves like Christ.

In 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul gives this charge, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

What an important and weighty charge! What is the word “encouragement” doing next to words like “correct” and “rebuke”? Why would those things even be put in the same context? When I reflect on some of the most powerful words of encouragement I find myself thinking about some of my lowest times. Times when I had just failed miserably at living a life honoring to Christ or when nothing made sense or I was just getting everything wrong. It was in those moments that God used people in my life to step in and first correct what I was doing wrong and then encourage me to do better and run deeper into the arms of my savior. I am so thankful for the people in my life who were brave enough to first correct me and then encourage me – that is the kind of encouragement that changes lives and makes a difference!

I am not meaning to down play the “norm” of what we think of when we want to encourage someone…I have also been deeply touched by perfectly timed notes, quotes and kind words. But I think we sometimes water down our encouragement and sometimes our relationships with each other by not being willing to confront the sin and messiness of life and admonish one another to live a life honoring to Christ. When we step into deeper relationships with one another we also deepen the ability to encourage and love.

What are some ways that you need to admonish and encourage those around you this week? Go do it!