Seized to Be A Daily Encourager

Key Verse

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

Short Reflection

We don’t get the chance to choose our parents, and normally we don’t get the chance to choose our names. If I had the chance to choose my name – and I am grateful that my parents did choose David for my name, as he was ‘a man after God’s own heart’ – I think I might have chosen Barnabas whose name means ‘a son of encouragement’ (Acts 4.36-37).

We live in a day when suicide is reaching epidemic proportions. A common cause seems to be what some call a low self-image. So often the problem begins with a parent or teacher telling a child that they are useless, a failure, that they will never achieve anything of purpose in life. Discouragement follows, often spiralling downwards to disaster.

And yet, to be an encourager can be the most fulfilling task in life. It takes little effort, and can have amazing results. There are many examples of people who have been put down as a child, told they will always be a failure, and yet against the odds have made their mark in history. Encouragement can be world-changing. If it wasn’t for the encouragement Barnabas showed to Paul, and to Mark, it is debatable whether the church would have survived. And so…let us encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today”.

Jesus has seized you to be a daily encourager!

This is the fourth in the “Seized to Be The Light of the World” series of blog posts and is a special submission from our close friend in Australia, David Cohen, of Moringa Associates.