The Best I Know How

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” -1 Thess 5:11

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat of its fruit." - Prov 18:21 

Just the other morning I sent a friend of mine an e-mail simply thanking him for being such a blessings to me over the last. Now, he hadn’t done anything big in his estimation; just the occasional, “how are you doing?” or “I hope your doing awesome" and he always gives the best hugs...haha. He had no idea what I was walking through at the time. Most of the things he would do to encourage me he didn’t even realize were such blessings to me at the time. Even his response to my simple “thank you” was encouraging and down right sweet. He said, “I am super glad I was able to help you through all that crap you were going through! It Is my duty as a follower of Jesus to love the people around me and I do that the best I know how! So your welcome and I'm glad you are doing good!

As I read the words, “I do the best I know how…” I just smiled. Why? Because he knows he’s not perfect & I know he’s not perfect.  He doesn’t get it right all the time and he knows that. I don’t love the way I should everyday either. But, he tries & I pray I would do the same. Do we make the effort? That’s what matters. Not that he did or said all the “right things.” Honestly I didn’t need more advice or opinions at the time. He never did any big jesters, more times than not he was just simply…there; and that’s what I needed. A friend who was just there loving me as a sister in Christ, “the best he knew how.”

Many of us say we want to glorify God in all we do. That isn't just walking around with a smile on our face saying, "Praise you Jesus". When we are eating dinner with friends, hanging out with others, our words should be glorifying God. When that customer comes in and is grumpy, find a way to bless them. We have no idea what they are dealing with. Show them Jesus, not turn around to your co-workers and blast them with your words.

What is something you can do today that could encourage, help, or bless someone around you? It could be simply a text message or a phone call to just how they are doing. Send an e-mail just to encourage them. If someone comes to you and needs to talk…just listen. Sometimes people don’t always need or even want our opinions about a situation. Sometimes all they need is an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on! Here is the amazing thing…just allow Christ to flow through you to those around you. Even in all our imperfections God can and wants to love through us. There is a reason that Jesus says that the first and greatest commandment is to, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and the second is like it; love you neighbor as yourself.” Love God. Love People. It’s not really that complicated. It didn’t say it was easy, just not complicated.

Who is someone that has encouraged you either recently or in the past? What did they do or say that blessed you? Maybe is was friend who has simply their for you during a rough season of your life. Was it a simply out of the blue e-mail or phone call from someone just wanting to encourage you? Then what are some ways that we can encourage and build one another up?

We are all flawed, and God knows that. But, are we loving the best we know how? Do you speak words or life or death? Are you building those around you up?