From the Pastors Desk

I was reading Romans 1:11-12 this week. Paul, talking to the Roman Christians said this

¹¹ For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. ¹² When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

Paul always comes across with so much passion about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Longing to visit speaks of a deep emptiness in his heart that will not go away until he has been to visit. And he wants to input into people’s lives. He wants to bring them gifts, teachings, and experiences that will build people up and encourage them. Encouragement is so important to him because it grows the body of Christ, it grows individuals and it seems for Paul that it provides him with a deep personal sense of encouragement and even fulfilment, just to be encouraging others.

In today’s world it is so easy to focus on ourselves and on what we can get out of life. There are many different things that are available to us and our culture teaches us that we need to grab it all with both hands because your fulfilment is the most important thing. It is really interesting to look at some of the current advertising campaigns. Buy this and you will be happy. That is what we are told. But don't forget that the only reason the advertisement is there in the first place is so that someone else can make money: Your money - God's money.
But Paul’s message and the rest of scripture for that matter is that people matter. And your greatest sense of fulfilment and personal encouragement will be when you invest your time and resources in people. Talk to them, laugh with them, cry with them, and be with them. Use what you have to make their lives better. And you will be encouraged and fulfilled - for sure.

Let’s pray that God gives us the heart of Paul and the heart of Jesus. Let us see others as His creation, His precious people who He chooses to care for, and encourage and to rescue and let us encourage others with the heart of Christ

And let’s pray that God gives us this deep sense of fulfilment and encouragement that comes from being the encourager that He made usto be.

Blessings.........Martyn