Encourage, Endure, Enjoy
2 Corinthians 13:11
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Encourage, endure, enjoy. Three simple words, but they sum up our Christian walk.
Let’s start with encourage. We are to be encouragers to those around us, but especially to those in church with us. It is so easy to show up for church, listen to the sermon, then leave. But what about ministry? As we speak and interact with those around us, God gives us opportunities to encourage others and be encouraged ourselves. As William Arthur Ward put it: Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.
Endure is where the rubber meets the road, isn’t it? You can’t have peace and harmony with others until you learn to endure. It’s easier to write people off than it is to endure with them. People have bad habits, bad tempers, bad ways of dealing with us, but part of maturing in Christ is learning to overlook the faults of others and loving them anyway. You know, Like God does with us! Endurance is just patience concentrated.
Finally, enjoy! But what does it mean to enjoy life? Is it possessions? Is it fame? No, those things all fade away. To truly enjoy life, we must experience it fully. When Tamer Lee Owens celebrated her 104th birthday, she credited "laughter, the Lord, and the little things" for keeping her going. She still finds enjoyment each day in talking with people, taking a walk, and reading the Bible as she has done since childhood. "I don’t know how long He’ll let me stay here," she said. "I just thank the Lord for what He’s given me already."
So, how are you doing on these three? Are you an encouraging person? Have you learned to endure others, and bless them? Are you enjoying what God has done for you in the past, and what he is doing today? Three simple words: Encourage, Endure, and Enjoy, but what a profound prescription they make for life!
Today’s Readings: Psalm 124; 2 Corinthians 11-13
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