The Ministry of Encouragement

For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. —Philemon 7

I believe one of the most needed ministries in the church today is the ministry of encouragement. Even the apostle Paul frequently made reference to other people who had helped him in his ministry; he treasured their friendship and support. They were a “comfort” to him (Col. 4:11), translated from the Greek paregoria, from which we get our word “paregoric,” a medicine that soothes an upset stomach. Encouragers soothe and comfort our hearts, giving us new hope, energy, and confidence.

We all want to be on the receiving end of encouragement. But we need to be on the giving end, as well. Thirty-some times in the New Testament, we read of things we are to do for “one another.” Be kind to one another. Love one another. Among them is the exhor- tation to encourage, or exhort, one another (Heb. 3:13). When we represent the “God who gives endurance and encouragement” in this way (Rom. 15:5), we become a channel of His grace to others.

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The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings ©2012 Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Scripture taken from The CSB