40 Days of Encouragement
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 25 | LOVE (AND ENCOURAGE) ONE ANOTHER
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 25 | LOVE (AND ENCOURAGE) ONE ANOTHER
Day 25
LOVE (AND ENCOURAGE) ONE ANOTHER
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)
The Bible teaches us that God is love. Not that God HAS love, but that He IS love. Here, Jesus is with his disciples at the Last Supper before being arrested, falsely tried, and crucified. He knew what was coming and that it would be devastating to his followers, and so, after the first communion, he issued this NEW COMMAND.
As I pondered this verse today – one of my favorites – it occurred to me that by telling the disciples to “love one another,” he was also telling them that they would ENCOURAGE one another.
The etymology (history) of the English word ENCOURAGE comes from the Old French “encoragier,” which means: “en” – to put into and “corage,” which means heart or the seat of emotions.
Thus, to “encourage” is to help put courage (strength) into one’s heart… one’s innermost feelings and emotions.
And since MANY of the people around us need that, encouraging someone is really to show LOVE to another. It might be family, a good friend, a church member, or just someone you know, but MANY around you today NEED encouragement. And LOVE is what motivates us to get out of our comfort zone and try to connect with another in a way that encourages them to get through whatever it is they’re going through… perhaps unknown to us but known to the LORD.
Suggestion: If you’re on the shy side, you could send a text, email, or a written note of encouragement. Easy to do!
Prayer: LORD, help me to get out of myself and my feelings and try to connect with another, and because of the LOVE you shared with me, share that with them through encouragement. For YOUR honor and glory. Amen.
LOVE (AND ENCOURAGE) ONE ANOTHER
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)
The Bible teaches us that God is love. Not that God HAS love, but that He IS love. Here, Jesus is with his disciples at the Last Supper before being arrested, falsely tried, and crucified. He knew what was coming and that it would be devastating to his followers, and so, after the first communion, he issued this NEW COMMAND.
As I pondered this verse today – one of my favorites – it occurred to me that by telling the disciples to “love one another,” he was also telling them that they would ENCOURAGE one another.
The etymology (history) of the English word ENCOURAGE comes from the Old French “encoragier,” which means: “en” – to put into and “corage,” which means heart or the seat of emotions.
Thus, to “encourage” is to help put courage (strength) into one’s heart… one’s innermost feelings and emotions.
And since MANY of the people around us need that, encouraging someone is really to show LOVE to another. It might be family, a good friend, a church member, or just someone you know, but MANY around you today NEED encouragement. And LOVE is what motivates us to get out of our comfort zone and try to connect with another in a way that encourages them to get through whatever it is they’re going through… perhaps unknown to us but known to the LORD.
Suggestion: If you’re on the shy side, you could send a text, email, or a written note of encouragement. Easy to do!
Prayer: LORD, help me to get out of myself and my feelings and try to connect with another, and because of the LOVE you shared with me, share that with them through encouragement. For YOUR honor and glory. Amen.