Daily Devotional for Monday, April 3

Paul in Greece

“And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there abode three months,” Acts 20:1-3.

“Encouragement is like peanut butter: the more you spread it around, the better things stick together.”—Unknown
Who does not love peanut butter! Whether it is on a classic PB&J sandwich that causes you to remember the simplicity of life as a child or a quick and easy sweet snack. I do not know many people who do not at least appreciate peanut butter. Peanut butter has some positive health benefits too. Some health experts say it helps with weight loss because it curbs cravings. Peanut butter is recommended for a heart healthy diet, and it is also believed to lower risks of cancer and Alzheimer’s. Even without the health benefits, peanut butter is a pretty good staple to keep in the pantry.
Like peanut butter, encouragement is quite a necessary staple for the Christian life. No matter how good life is for a Christian, life is made much better by a simple act of encouragement. In fact, medical research speaks of the tremendous benefits of encouragement to our mental, emotional and physical health. A timely word of encouragement may be exactly what someone needs to help them take the next step in a difficult season.
Our key verses speak of Paul pausing his labors for a short time to give and receive encouragement from fellow Christians. We may breeze over this portion of Scripture to focus on the high points of Paul’s gospel ministry. But I wonder if Paul would not testify that this time of encouragement is exactly what he needed to continue in the ministry.

THOUGHT:Be intentional about offering genuine encouragement to others. You will never know the value of a well-timed word of encouragement to your fellowman.

Steven Ridings