Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
–1 Thessalonians 5:11
Can you imagine what our lives would be like if each of us worked fully to the glory of God?
Imagine what the church would be like if we witnessed, prayed for people, gave of ourselves, and didn’t care who got the credit—as long as God received all the glory!
Wow, what a thought! It’s a good goal, isn’t it? All glory should go to God, but let me remind you of something. As we give all the glory to God, we are allowed to encourage one another.
In fact, the Scripture tells us to do just that. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, to “encourage one another and build one another up.” And Romans 13:7 admonishes us to give “honor to whom honor is owed.”
You see, you and I are to spur one another along to do good works. We all need a good pat on the back at times. We need encouragement and we need to encourage others.
So let’s make sure that our motive is God’s glory—not personal victories, not personal accolades, not the applause of men, but the glory of God.
Spend time before God asking him to keep your heart and motives pure.
WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT AND WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS.
