The Gifts Beneath God’s Tree
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement…” Romans 15:5 NIV84
The second Christmas gift Paul mentions is the gift of ENCOURAGEMENT. The Greek word used means to call to one’s side. A beautiful image, and a familiar one too.
When you hurt yourself as a child, what did your mother do? She called you to her side, swept you into her arms, kissed your cheeks, dried your tears, and said, “Don’t cry. Everything will be all right.” And somehow, everything was all right, wasn’t it?
This is the same picture contained in the New Testament word for encouragement. Where does true encouragement originate? Paul answers: “The God who gives endurance and encouragement.”
If ever a man needed encouragement, it was the apostle Paul. In 2 Corinthians he lists many of the heartaches and hardships of his ministry: hard work, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, imprisonment, floggings, beatings, stoning, exposure to death. Can any woe or worry in our lives compare with his?
Yet, notice how Paul opens 2 Corinthians: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (1:3-4 NIV84) The term comfort in these verses means encouragement. Paul’s encouragement came from God. Ours does too.
It’s no coincidence that the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete—a name related to the word for encouragement in Romans 15:5. He encourages us by leading us to Jesus.
Do you need encouragement? It’s yours for the asking, gift wrapped and waiting beneath God’s tree—the cross.
Lord Jesus, encourage us daily through Your word. Amen.