One Sentence, Two Meanings

He has the gift of encouragement.

You have heard that said before. Of course that same sentence can mean two opposite things. It can be said sarcastically or sincerely.

But did you know that the gift of encouragement is a real spiritual gift?

"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...the one who exhorts, in his exhortation" (Romans 12:4-8).

That's the ESV. Yeah, I'm trendy like that.

I hope people know me for being encouraging.

I haven't always been encouraging. My dry humor doesn't always translate well into an exhortation. People misread me sometimes, and rightly so, seeing as though I suffer from diarrhea of the mouth.

But encouragement is a powerful thing that can propel a person forward.

When Christians encourage one another there is something supernatural that happens. It's as if the Holy Spirit touches your spirit in that moment.

Currently, my life is parked in a spot where God knows I need a lot of encouragement. My calling isn't playing out remotely like I had planned. (Read Vomit Inducing Words.) You've been there before. Encouragement becomes a necessity in those times.

Recently, Steven Furtick tweeted, "Sometimes the reward is the work." That's where I am right now. I don't get paid for blogging, but God is blessing me tremendously.

Every time someone likes, shares, or comments on a post it encourages me. When I see you wearing a Christian Gravy t-shirt, it encourages me. A reader, whom I never met, sent me a gracious check because they wanted to invest in my ministry. They believe in me, even more than I believe in myself.

When I'm in the bathroom and someone says, "What's up Christian Gravy?" Your texts, conversations, and tweets encourage me.

At our new house, my father-in-law built me an impressive office and outdoor space to write. He encourages me to write and not just to write, but as he says, to write at the level of likes of Mark Twain.

Your encouragement propels me giving me the confidence I need to keep writing.

Do you want to make a difference? Then encourage people. Believe in people.

How do I know it makes a difference? Because you've made a difference in my life. And you can tell about people who have changed your life by encouraging and believing in you.

My prayer for us today is that we encourage one another. That when people say, "You have the gift of encouragement," they aren't responding sarcastically to you being a jerk, but to you being a sincere friend.

Question:
Who has been the most encouraging person in your life?