Be a Joyful Encourager

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  May I encourage you to drink it faithfully! 

            One of the most glowing characteristics that a person can possess (in my opinion) is the gift of  encouragement.  It seems to come more naturally for some people than others.  I’ll bet you can name a few individuals who are a constant source of encouragement in your life. They have the ability to edify and build others up in all types of situations. As Christians, we should all be encouragers.  God gives the gift of exhortation; and when we use that gift, we spread His joy.  

             What does it mean to have “the gift” of exhortation? In the New Testament, encouragement and exhortation are part of the same concept and often are used to translate the same Greek word. A person who has the gift of encouragement will most often:

• Recognize someone’s need and respond to that need in a caring and appropriate manner.
• They will know what a person needs to hear and they say it in a timely fashion.
• They’ll have lots of friends, because people love to be around them! After all, EVERYONE needs encouragement!

Romans 12 teaches about the different gifts given to believers.  In this passage, Paul tells us that if we have been given the gift of exhortation, then we should put it to use!  

            Let’s be alert…on the lookout for that person today that really needs an encouraging word or act of kindness. When we encourage others, it has a boomerang effect.  It comes right back to us…along with a bucket full of JOY! 

            Drink your JOY JUICE faithfully and generously share encouragement with those God points out to you today!