Being an Encourager.

Sounds easy? Not quite so much. Over the past week, I learned many things about being encouraged, and becoming a better encourager. Some of the things below are what I learned from the lovely Carol Howard, others from my awesome youth pastor Korey McCrady, yet others from kids in my youth group, and still others I let God speak to me and teach me.

First, what does it mean to encourage, or to discourage?
The dictionary definitions are this:
Encourage - to give courage to, to inspire, to help forward.
Discourage - to deprive of courage, to deter, to dissuade.
 My favorite meanings were given to me by Mrs. Carol.
Encourage means to put strength into, to make alive.
Discourage means to take strength from, to take life out of.

To make alive, or to take life out of. Did you know, that everytime we open our mouths, we have the chance to encourage, or to discourage. Every. Time. We can use our tongues as weapons, or as tools. As Mrs. Carol said, "We can speak life, or death." Seems kinda heavy, huh?
But it's true. How many times have you been hurt by gossip? Rumors? An unkind comment? Or even, the lack of encouragement or kind words, the silence? How many times has our body language, or our lack of warmth towards people discouraged them? How many times have we ourselves gossiped? Spread a rumor? Said something out loud, under our breath, behind someone's back? Or just simply ignored that person. Not exactly the cold shoulder, but close.
Matthew 7:12 says this: "So in everything, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."  In everything... Everything we do, do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. We were taught that as we were younger as the Golden Rule. It's scripture. It's not just a rule, it's a command from the Word of God.
In Luke 10:27, before Jesus begins the Parable of the Good Samaratin, a man asks "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" The man answers, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind'; and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " And Jesus told the man that he had answered correctly. We are to love our God with everything we have, everything He's given us, and then we are to love our neighbor (not just the one down the street or sitting next to us, it means everybody.)
So why don't we treat others the way we want to be treated? Why don't we treat others the way Christ treats us? He forgave us for so much, yet we forgive others for so little. He loved us sooo much, yet we bestow the brotherly love on so few.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the left also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, hand over your cloak as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." Matthew 5:38-42. Whatever the circumstances be, we are to forgive, and keep giving encouragement, and showing them Christ.
Where are our words, and actions leading people? To, or away from Christ? Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, only that which is helpful for building up others, that it may benefit those who hear it."
We all took a deep look at ourselves the other night at our church's lock-in. Are my words AND my actions encouraging or discouraging? Am I leading people to Christ, or away from Him?

In Acts 9:27 - Barnabas encouraged Saul (then Paul) to keep preaching, and stood up for him in front of the other apostles, telling them about the changes he saw in Saul/Paul, and getting them to give him a chance.
In Acts 15:36 - Barnabas stands up for Mark, when Paul does not want Mark to accompany them, because Mark had left them at one point, and asks Paul to give him another chance. Paul does not, and Barnabas and Mark go their seperate ways from Paul and Silas.
Barnabas was a great friend, and an amazing encourager.He could said, "Nah, Paul, dude, you're on your own with them. You should just go somewhere else." BUT HE DIDN'T.
He could have just given up on Mark, and said "You know, Paul, you're right." And left Mark. BUT HE DIDN'T. He encouraged them.

I pray for an encouraging spirit like Barnabas. I pray it over myself, for myself. I will and do mess up, but I want to have that encouraging spirit. I also pray it for everyone around me, that we may encourage each other, and grow closer, stronger, not just to each other but to God.
Barnabas knew that we are supposed to build others up, give them second chances, and stand by them. He got it. He took good care of the people God entrusted him with.

What are we doing with the people God entrusts us with? Are we showing them Christ, through our actions and words? Are we encouraging them, putting strength into them, and making them alive in Christ? Or are we discouraging, taking strength from them, taking life out of them?

One of the guys from camp said this in their cabin one night, and it stuck with most of us ever since:
"Give me Jesus."
That's all he wanted. Jesus.
That's all any of us wanted that week. Jesus.
That's all I want. Jesus.
I felt tonight, listening to Mr. Korey (who supplied some of the bible verses, and the message about Barnabas above) that now, when we've all had such a great summer, closer to each other and God, as everyone's going back or away to school, that there's more.
Tonight it whispered straight to my heart:
We say: "Give me Jesus."
He's now saying: "Give them Jesus. Show them me."