Encourage one another
and build each other up.
—1 Thessalonians 5:11
Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake made history when they finished first and second in both the 100- and 200-meter races in the 2012 Olympics in London. Rivals on the track, but partners in training, they prodded each other to be their best.
Bolt said, “Yohan made me a better athlete. He inspired me.” Usain wouldn’t have reached the greatness he achieved without the encouragement of Yohan.
In Romans 12, Paul listed seven gifts that God gives Christians. No one has all of them, but everyone has some of them. When the apostle named “encouragement” as one of the seven, he tagged each of us, for everyone can encourage someone.
In the kingdom, there are encouragers and discouragers—and pew-warmers who are neither.
We need more of Barnabas and less of Diotrephes (look it up).
Everyone needs encouragement.
And you’ve got it to give.