Jesus

Step 3: Encourage

/ Gail Johnson / 10 Comments

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12 (KJV)

Good afternoon! The third step in 5 STEPS to Success in 2025 is Encourage.

Encourage means to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope – Merriam Webster Dictionary

Everyone likes a little encouragement now and then, right?

In fact, we need encouragement because we live in a world of comparisons. We compare food, books, movies, clothes, and achievements. This competitive society often leaves us feeling less than. How can we not think life isn’t fair?

That is not an encouraging opening. But as I researched how encouraging others affects us, my mind kept circling back to why we withhold our encouragement. So this post isn’t like the first two, but a needful reminder to be on our guard when we can’t offer congratulations for a job well done or encourage another on their journey.

Let’s look at why we may feel unable to offer encouragement.

Reasons We May Withhold Encouragement

The first two reasons that leap to mind are jealousy and covetousness

Jealousy – envious of someone’s accomplishments or possessions

Covetous – not only jealous but also a resentful longing for what they have

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Other reasons for withholding encouragement may include an injustice or what we perceive as an injustice. Author Sandra Byrd shares a perfect example of this in her one-year devotional.

“The runners did not start at the same place—some were farther ahead than others, and the final racer seemed to be starting way behind. Their starting spots were staggered.
It seemed unfair.
I looked it up, and the staggering was actually a means to make the race fair. Each runner’s race was marked out, and by staggering the lanes, it ensured that the runners on the outside did not have to run farther than those on the inside.”  Experiencing God’s Love, A Year of Abundance | Sandra Byrd | Used by permission

Think about that for a moment. When I read the devotion, I questioned my judgment. How many times have I misjudged a situation because I perceived an injustice?

If we believe we are created by God and our purpose is found in God, then we should also trust His ways are just.

My journey is not your journey. We all have our roads to travel. Mine may be more circuitous than yours. You may reach the end before I do. That is definitely true when it comes to writing. 😊But the Lord is Faithful and True. He is a just God, and He is on this journey with us.

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Deuteronomy 32:4

Something to Ponder

What if Moses was jealous of Joshua? What if Peter had been envious of Paul? Now, think about what these four men accomplished by running their own race. Moses helped Joshua. Peter spoke of Paul in his letters. All four finished their race!

Truth

Yes, things do seem a little distorted at times. Just as we cannot trust our emotions, the same goes for our sight. We are not God. We do not see the same picture. Let’s trust the Lord, obey His commandments, and encourage one another! Even when that encouragement seems to stick in our throats, do it! I promise you’ll feel better. 😉

Giveaway

I’m offering an ebook copy of Sandra’s devotion. Leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. U. S. entries only.

Prodigal

/ Gail Johnson / 5 Comments

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (KJV) 

Every year, we pull scriptures to piece together the perfect Christmas program. What we don’t include is Christ’s genealogy. Sadly, people admit they skip those hard-to-pronounce names in devotional time. What they don’t realize is there are astounding stories behind those names!

Hang with me here. I know it’s the busiest part of the year. But I want to share a story within Christ’s story. A tale of horror, rebellion, and captivity. It’s also a story of love, mercy, and forgiveness.

You can read the story later in 2 Kings 20:21, 21:1-18, 2 Chronicles 33:1-20, Jeremiah 15:14.

Child King

The Bible tells us that Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king and reigned for fifty-five years. His parents were Hezekiah and Hephzibah. Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of God. He removed the wickedness his daddy Ahaz committed in the land and brought back the worship of YHWH.

Manasseh, on the other hand, followed in his grandaddy’s footsteps and did evil in the Lord’s sight by delving into the occult, human sacrifices, and idolatry. Idol worship often included temple prostitution. In his commentary, Adam Clark writes that Ahaz (grandaddy), Manasseh (grandson), and Amon (great-grandson) did their best to destroy every copy of the written law.

Transgressor

Below is a list of Manasseh’s transgressions according to 2 Kings 21:1-18.

Rebuilt the high places of idolatry Hezekiah destroyed.
Built pagan altars in the temple of God.
Built altars in two courts of the house of God for the hosts of heaven
Worshiped Baal and the hosts of heaven (sun, moon, and stars)
Sacrificed his own son by fire to Molech in the Valley of Hinnom
Observed times. Practiced divination. Consulted spiritists and mediums.
Carved and set an Asherah (Canaanite fertility goddess) pole in the temple.
Shed innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other. (Tradition says he had Isaiah sawn into.)

Eighteen verses later, we read, “And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.”

A tragic ending if we stop reading there. But God wasn’t through with this transgressor.

Captive

When we sin, it affects everyone in our lives. If only we had listened. If only we had not . . .

Earlier, the Lord promised David and Solomon he would care and protect Israel if they heeded his words and kept his commandments. Yes, Israel and Judah had been riddled with wicked kings, but the evil had never been as prevalent as in the days of Manasseh. The Bible says, “he (Manasseh) seduced his people to do more evil than the nations God had destroyed before the children of Israel.” God told his prophets that because of what Manasseh, king of Judah, had done and made Judah do, he would forsake them and deliver them to their enemies (Kings 21:10-15).

While Manasseh was busy destroying his kingdom, the world around him watched, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. Remember, the surrounding kingdoms knew God protected his people. Earlier, during Hezekiah’s reign, the Assyrian army besieged the kingdom, but God sent an angel to destroy them. Judah was safe in the arms of God. Right?

But the Lord’s people had abandoned Him for other gods. While they worshiped their idols, the Assyrian king invaded and captured a thirty-five-year-old Manasseh with hooks, bound him in chains, and transported him back to Babylon, where he remained for twelve years.

Prodigal

Rather than spending his reign caring for his people, Manasseh wasted his time, money, and energy killing innocent people, committing perversion in the house of the Lord, and seeking false gods that couldn’t help in time of need.

Thankfully, Kings 21:18 isn’t the end of Manasseh’s story. In his affliction, Manasseh humbled himself and prayed. God heard his prayers and brought him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.” 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (KJV)

Is that a love story, or is that a love story?!

Beloved

Jesus told a story of another boy who squandered his blessings and forsook his upbringing. And when all was lost, came to himself and repented.

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:18-20 (KJV)

My friend, God’s love is no different today. If you think you’ve gone too far, all you have to do is turn around. Change directions and run to the Father. Plead mercy. Ask forgiveness. Invite Jesus into your heart.

He’s waiting.

Thankfulness

/ Gail Johnson / 12 Comments

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4 (KJV)

Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.

Henri-Frederic Amiel (1821-1881)