Do you remember a time in your life when someone encouraged you, and it made a great difference? Or maybe a time when the roles were reversed, and you were the encourager? All of us have probably experienced both roles.
One night my phone rang, and the caller said, “Is this Ted Tussey?” “Yes, I said.” Then, in a very official tone, he said, “Is this the Ted Tussey who served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Polk, LA, in Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade in October 1968?” “Oh no, who is this guy,” I thought, as my life flashed before me. “Do I owe the Army money; do they owe me? Was my discharge invalid and have I been AWOL for over 25 years?” I swallowed hard and said, “Ugh, yes, it is.” He identified himself as Mike Reynolds from Ohio, who was in my basic training platoon. He had just taken a job in the area and wanted to “drop in” on me. I slowly regained my composure as I remembered him in my mind. Over lunch the next week, I admitted to Mike that I never thought of him even once since we left that awful Army post. He explained that he remembered me partly because he never knew anyone else from Richmond, but primarily because I encouraged him (unknowingly) when he was having a bad day. He said I must have read his facial expression because I told him he’d make it, things would be better, and we would be far away from here soon. “Just hang in there, man!” Those were just the right words and at just the right time for Mike, and I didn’t even know it.
The New Testament speaks of a man who was an excellent encourager. Acts 9 tells us that not long after his dramatic conversion on the Damascus trip, Saul began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. His new message puzzled many who were astonished that now he was a Christ follower rather than a persecutor of them. Hearing this new message incited the Jews to kill him but, Saul gave them the slip. He went to Jerusalem to join the other disciples but got a chilly reception there. And, rightly so, as they were afraid of him from his reputation and doubted that he had become a true believer. Barnabas (known as “Son of Exhortation”) served as an encourager by telling them of Saul’s conversion experience and that he had preached the name of Jesus fearlessly in Damascus. Barnabas’ endorsement was so convincing that the others took Saul in and he preached about the Lord boldly in Jerusalem.
Acts 11 tells of believers going from Cyprus and Cyrene to Antioch and helping to convert many Gentiles. When the Jerusalem church heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check out the news. When he saw their fruitful results, “He was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” (v. 23)
As you read this, you are probably thinking of someone who could use an encouraging word from you right about now. “We’re going to make it; things are going to be alright; this isn’t going to last forever.” Now you’ve got it! Contact them today, because they may be having a bad day like Mike Reynolds did many years ago.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thess. 5: 11
