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Mudguard Your Mouth!
'Stephanas, Fortunatas, and Achaicus... have been a wonderful encouragement to me.' 1 Corinthians 16:17-18
Read today's verse again. Stephanas who? Fortunatus what? And as for the third fella - how do you even pronounce his name? We know little about them and yet here they are in the cast list of the biggest-selling book of all time. We know little about them because most encouragers hate being the centre of attention. They're happy playing Mr and Mrs Anonymous; but our unknown trio played their role in spurring Paul on in his.
Don't you want to be a Stephanus? Someone whose words are like energy food to other's souls? The flipside of encouragement is discouragement. Paul warns us to wash our mouths out of discouragement: 'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up ... that it may benefit those who listen' (Eph. 4:29 NIV).
A word is a weapon. Used carelessly, it can cut deep scars into people's self esteem. Used expertly, it can sharpen the edges of someone's character. A snide remark may get a quick laugh, but it may leave its mark on someone's make-up for a lifetime. Put a mudguard around your mouth and protect those nearest to you from getting a splatter of your muck. Choose words that will encourage slackers and put the exhausted back on their feet. Just as God injects us with confidence, boost others with the same.
written by Bob Gass
'Stephanas, Fortunatas, and Achaicus... have been a wonderful encouragement to me.' 1 Corinthians 16:17-18
Read today's verse again. Stephanas who? Fortunatus what? And as for the third fella - how do you even pronounce his name? We know little about them and yet here they are in the cast list of the biggest-selling book of all time. We know little about them because most encouragers hate being the centre of attention. They're happy playing Mr and Mrs Anonymous; but our unknown trio played their role in spurring Paul on in his.
Don't you want to be a Stephanus? Someone whose words are like energy food to other's souls? The flipside of encouragement is discouragement. Paul warns us to wash our mouths out of discouragement: 'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up ... that it may benefit those who listen' (Eph. 4:29 NIV).
A word is a weapon. Used carelessly, it can cut deep scars into people's self esteem. Used expertly, it can sharpen the edges of someone's character. A snide remark may get a quick laugh, but it may leave its mark on someone's make-up for a lifetime. Put a mudguard around your mouth and protect those nearest to you from getting a splatter of your muck. Choose words that will encourage slackers and put the exhausted back on their feet. Just as God injects us with confidence, boost others with the same.
written by Bob Gass
