Encourage each other every day while you have the opportunity. [Hebrews 3:13a (GW)

After spending time with my youngest grands (one and three), I noticed how eager we are to offer encouragement to little ones as they learn new skills. They get positive reinforcement when they take their first steps, use the potty, don’t spill, manage the stairs or say, “Please.” As people get older, however, we’re much stingier with our words of approval and encouragement. In fact, when we fill out comment cards or make on-line comments, more often it is to criticize than to praise.

Our cars need fuel to run and people do, too. Words of encouragement help us refuel when we’re low on confidence or feeling a bit unsure of ourselves. Even those people who seem self-assured and assertive need a little refueling with encouraging words from time to time.

Some praise goes a long way in helping a tired secretary or cashier through the day. A word of thanks is always welcomed by a teacher or waitress. The sales trainee would appreciate some encouragement and your barista would value a smile or a favorable comment. A compliment is always well received by a spouse; even our pastors and worship leaders could use a boost now and then. Is there someone in your life who might be running short on fuel? Why not help them fill up with some of God’s love and encouragement?

We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. [Hebrews 10:24 (GW)]

Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. [Ephesians 4:31-32 (TLB)]

I sat reading my Bible and feeling just a wee bit self-righteous. After all, I’d spent the majority of the weekend with an elderly relative. I then read Paul’s words to the Ephesians and God convicted me. Yes, I’d driven her around, taken her wherever she wanted to go, helped her shop, and spent plenty of time with her, but had I been as loving as I should have been? I’d said nothing mean; I’d certainly been polite. There had been no quarrels or harsh words. I’d really done nothing wrong, but had I done everything right? Had I been as tenderhearted and kind as I could have been? Hadn’t some resentment crept into my heart because there were other more enjoyable and interesting things I would have preferred doing? I know I grew impatient at her snail’s pace and gotten a little annoyed at hearing the same story yet again. Hadn’t there been frustration at her inability to make a decision? Had I let any of those feelings sneak into my demeanor or tone of voice? Probably! Had I been as helpful, encouraging and caring as I could (and should) have been? Probably not! I deeply love this woman, but my heart and mind were more interested in me and my inconvenience than my love for her.

Father, thank you for pointing out our failings. Forgive us when we do the “right” things but not in the “right” way. Let your Holy Spirit show us how to truly love so we genuinely reflect your love in all of our behavior.

Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing. [St. Therese de Lisieux]

People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. [Proverbs 21:2 (NLT)]

My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring. [1 John 3:18 (NCV)]

The Apostle John makes it abundantly clear that it is not enough for us to believe; we must both believe and love. Our Christian faith must result in loving behavior. If it doesn’t, there is something wrong with our faith.

We may not like everyone and God doesn’t expect us to do so. But he does expect our actions and words to reveal our faith and our love. Unfortunately, loving all the people around us all of the time can be extremely difficult to do. Loving people from afar seems a much easier concept than loving those we see day after day! Impersonal charity is often simpler than forgiving a brother or being kind to a neighbor. We often find it easier to write a check to a worthy cause than to make our daily words and actions reflect our faith on a personal basis.

We certainly won’t have affection for every person we meet, but we can have love. It is not our politics or words or even our knowledge of the Bible that identify us as Christians; it is our love.

All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other. [John 13:35 (NCV)]