ENCOURAGEMENT
//Do Well To Avoid These Things\\
Through the Book of Acts
[Acts 13-16]
Acts 14:22; 15:29
22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.
29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
As part of the body of Christ, encouragement is an important aspect in growing in the faith. The disciples were constantly encouraging each other to keep up in the true faith. Their encouragement came in faith "You will do well to avoid these things." When we encourage our co-believers, we must have the heart of faith knowing that what we have encouraged them to do will be done in accordance to God's will. Have faith that even though we know how hard it is sometimes to "abstain" from things (such as that with the Gentile believers in the book of Acts), that they will still do it for the glory of God and to please the Spirit of God.
:: I will be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Though there are things that I need to speak about to people that may seem to be "offensive" I must have faith that when I know I am speaking the truth (in love), God's rebuke will not go null and void. I must encourage them that they will "do well to avoid these things." I must be the encouragement and the encourager!
Holy Spirit I pray that I will be continuously and overflowingly empowered by YOU as I encourage my brothers and sister to be more strengthen in the faith. I pray that you will also strengthen my faith that I will not falter when I don't see the results immediately or obviously. I pray that You will help me to grow in my faith as well that I can give out what you give me. Thank you, In Jesus' name, amen.
