Encouragement by Gary Rose

The Bible is a wonderful book! It provides everything we really need. That includes ENCOURAGEMENT. How?

Romans tells us...

Romans, Chapter 15 (WEB)

⁴ For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Consider the examples found in the Old Testament- Moses, Abraham, David, the prophets show us how to follow God faithfully. As for bad examples, well most of the kings that followed David fall into this category. 

Simple thought here- follow the good and learn from the bad. 

The same principals apply to the New Testament as well, so, to simplify still further- learn from Jesus!!!

Revelation, Chapter 3 (WEB) says...

 ¹⁴  “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: 

“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things: 

  ¹⁵  “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.   ¹⁶  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.   ¹⁷  Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;   ¹⁸  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.   ¹⁹  As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. (emp. added GDR)

The picture, the Old Testament and the words of Jesus are all basically saying the same thing- be encouraged and be zealous!!!

Be encouraged and encourage others as well- Who knows? Perhaps someone might just give you this nickname....

Acts, Chapter 4 (WEB)

 ³⁶ Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), (emp. added GDR) a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, ³⁷ having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.