ENCOURAGE THEM!

When someone lives justified by their own righteousness, they tend to focus on the mistakes and failures of others. They seem to be quick to point out how they are doing it wrong instead of showing them the real answer to right-should living, which is the love and grace of God.  This is what Job’s friends were like but look at Jobs’s response.

Job 16:4-5 NIV  “I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.”

Many times, when people are making the wrong choices, it is because their hearts are hurt, and they feel rejected. Many times people are in a place where there seems to be no hope for their future. It is at those times when they need you and me the most! This is the time to give them the answer to their woes –the grace and love of God! Jesus never condoned sin but always loved the sinner!  In John chapter 8, When Jesus was confronted with the woman caught in adultery, the teachers of the law and Pharisees kept on hounding Jesus with the question of whether they should stone her as the law demands or not. His response was profound!

John 8:7-11 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no-one condemned you?” 11 “No-one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (NIV)  

Jesus Christ, the God of all the universe, had nothing condemning to say to her! Wow! How much different he was than many who claim to be his servants today. Am I saying that we should never confront sin? No! But only the love and grace of God can give a person the power to “go and sin no more.” Next time you are near someone struggling or making the wrong choices, I hope you will remember this Encouraging Note and will, like Job,…

ENCOURAGE THEM!