Each new year I identify a word I feel God calling me to focus on. It’s always interesting to see what unfolds out of a bundle of letters. Three years ago the word was character, and life indeed threw me some character-building experiences. Two years ago was hope, and it became abundantly clear that hope wasn’t found in this fickle world or circumstances. Last year I settled on the word expect. I learned to find peace and joy in holding my expectations loosely, and to expect God to do great things.
This year the word is encourage.
I don’t know how much thought you’ve given to the word encourage, but I had always thought of it as a description of cheering someone on. That is true, but when reading through Matthew I ran across the story of Jesus healing a paralytic. In Matthew 9:2 Jesus says “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” What struck me is that Jesus, in forgiving this man’s sins, gifted him with courage.
How does the forgiveness of sins beget courage?
When I think about what sin has done in my life, the need for forgiveness in order to find courage makes sense. Every call God has put on my life has been immediately followed by the same thought: “What will they think of me?” What I was worried about was what the people who have known my past, seen me at my worst, and could write their own books on my bad behavior would think. And that, my friends, is because Jesus knew what we don’t realize: sin is paralyzing.
What’s more, the removal of sin is the opposite of paralyzing. When we repent and are free from that baggage, we are then able to walk in a new way. The prefix en means to put into or onto, so Jesus encouraged this paralyzed man by putting courage on him. We acquire new courage, the Holy Spirit within us and the covering of righteousness on us, when we are forgiven of our sins.
And what are we then made courageous to do? That, my friend, is between you and God. What I can tell you is that there is a God in heaven who is able to put courage on you when you don’t have any. He wants you to walk with purpose, free of guilt and shame. Be encouraged that Jesus has not stopped raising the paralyzed from their stretchers. Sin is paralyzing but with our God-given courage we can get up and walk.
Invite God into your discouragement.
What expectations do you need to let go of?
What fears do you need to put off?
What sin do you need to turn from, and not replace with shame?
You and I have the courage of Christ today. I am expecting us to be encouraged and be the ones who encourage those around us. Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of encouragement.