Why Encouragement is So Essential For Everyone! - Luke 17

17 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

We all know how important Christian community is in our lives, as we seek to become better followers of Christ.  We need each other.  The Proverbs says, "As iron sharpens iron so one believer sharpens another."  27:17  

Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." We all need encouragment all the time.  One of the devil's main tactics is discouragement.  A discouraged Christian is a vulnerable and ineffective Christian.  This is why Jesus gives such a strong warning to the disciples today.  

He says, "Woe to anyone who causes another to stumble, it would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble."  "Little ones" could refer to children, younger believers, or new Christians.  The bottom line is causing another to stumble is a really bad thing.  Jesus doesn't say "woe to" very often. so we would do well to heed this warning.  

Then, as a practical application of this teaching, Jesus admonishes us to address a fellow believer, if they sin against us and forgive them if they repent of their behavior.  Jesus even addresses if they continue to do this and continue to repent. He uses the extreme example of forgiving seven times a day.  This is not meant to be literal, but he is saying we need to continue to forgive if a person repents.  This is why the disciples say, "increase our faith".  Forgiveness for someone who has hurt you takes faith.  You need to trust in God to forgive your neighbor above and against your right to return evil for evil, or take revenge.  You can see how if these two guidelines are not followed in the Christian community how much harm and discouragment this can cause.  Again Satan is working overtime to create discord and disharmony in the church.  A church divided is not effective at all.  

So spend time during this COVID break to encourage others.  Call them, write them, text them or email them.  Encouragement comes in all sizes.  Try one on.  We all know how good it is to be encouraged, so let's do that for someone else for the sake of Christ and His church.