ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER by Brian Plummer

“ Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.”   Hebrews 10:25 (GNT)

One of the exciting things about teaching is seeing the lights go on in students’ eyes as they “get it”; it’s also fun to help students see the different sides of historical debate and get them to think beyond simply “dates and facts.”  Several years ago, one class dealt with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan and its consequences; one of my students (a native-born American) lauded the act enthusiastically, citing the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor as justification for retribution.  Another of my students, however, was from Japan, and as she sat silently, I could see tears streaming down her face.  Finally, she couldn’t take any more, and in her imperfect English, she told the class how her people still—more than sixty years later—haven’t come to terms with the devastation the atomic bombings had wrought, how much pain—physical and psychic—it still caused the people of Japan.  My student sat in the back row and wept.  The class was silent after that, and I didn’t really know how to respond.  As class ended and everyone got up to leave, I watched—with tears in my own eyes—as several of my students voluntarily went to the Japanese student and embraced her, comforted her, and let her know that they wept with her.  They were an encouragement even though they were under no obligation to be.

As Christians, we are commanded to love one another, but more than that, we’re called to encourage each other.  We’re to bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2); we’re to honor others above ourselves (Romans 12:10); we’re to be kind and forgiving toward each other (Ephesians 4:32).  In this fast-paced, complex world, however, what we perhaps need the most is encouragement, something that shows that our fellow believers are empathetic.  One of my favorite characters in the New Testament is Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement.”  We don’t know much about him, but he’s always referred to as bright, upbeat, encouraging—even in the face of grave danger and hardship.  When the believers are ready to pack it in because of persecution, Barnabas is there to hearten them and persuade them not to give up.  We, too, need to be reminded that, even when faced with economic downturns, the threat of terrorism, and familial strife, God is there, and He’s with us through it all.  We need to be like Barnabas to each other, to build each other up in our daily walk through life, and to remind ourselves that Jesus is coming, and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

B.P.

Think about it:  Is my hope in Christ’s return real? Do I live like it is?