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Endurance and Encouragement

            May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6)

 

            When the passage above says that God gives endurance, encouragement, and the same attitude of mind that Christ Jesus had, it’s tempting to think that means that we are like spiritual Popeyes. When the going gets rough, we pull out a can of spiritual spinach and proceed to wipe up the floor with our spiritual enemies. We know it doesn’t work that way, but we’d like it to. Instead, God gives us endurance, encouragement, and the same attitude of mind more like we are given a good education – over the course of 16 to 20 years.

            And, we’re tempted to think in terms of our own glory, though verse 6 says that the goal of the endurance, the encouragement, and the same mind is the glorification of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ. But how better could He glorify Himself than by glorifying us, we ask, at least of ourselves. How much more good could we do if we were rich, or famous, or something more than we are. That’s not the pattern Jesus set for us. He became less. He endured what He did not deserve.

            As I read the passage this morning, my mind focused in on the word encouragement. I haven’t done the research on the subject that I should, but I found myself wondering how we are encouraged. Kevin Eikenberry believes there is a language of encouragement, which is what I hoped to find.[1] Among the important phrases in this language are:

I believe in you.

I appreciate how you did that.

Thank you.

We need you/your help.

What do you think?

I know you can do it.

I know what you mean.

I trust you.

Tell me more.

You are/look/give/do … followed by a positive.

            Each of these could encourage us at the right moment, but looking at the list, are there any that especially touch your heart? Which would you most like to hear from God? The ones that whisper to me are “I believe in you,” “I know you can do it,” and “I trust you.” But part of my mind takes up a song from My Fair Lady… “Words, words, words, I’m so sick of words. I get words all day through, first from him, now from you. Is that all you blighters can do?”

            As I look at the words of encouragement, I can’t escape the idea that the languages of encouragement are the languages of love. It’s precisely the direction I did not want to go. Some people would be encouraged by all these words of affirmation. Others would be encouraged by someone coming alongside and helping. Another group would be encouraged by someone just spending time with them. And two other groups would be encouraged by a hand on the shoulder or a hug or by some token or gift.

            And as I think about what encourages me, there are a number of things, but all of them seem to be some variation on words, actions, or things that guide me or allow me to keep going or doing – or acts of service. This needs more thought, but the idea that is that if we understand what encourages us and what encouragement is, we will be more likely to recognize it when it happens.

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