Not too long ago, while we were watching Jeopardy, my little daughter did something that I thought was pretty neat. When the show was over and the audience began to clap, my daughter decided she would chip in and started to clap along with the crowd. She didn’t know what the people did to deserve the clapping, but in her little world when someone claps for you it means you did good…at least that’s what mom and dad has done to encourage her. At that moment in time she just wanted to give someone a little encouragement by giving them a hand.
Who among us, other than those who think they’re an island to themselves, doesn’t enjoy a little encouragement every now and then? The fact that human hearts and confidence can be torn down shows that they can be built up – after all, something has to be built before it can be torn down, right?
At times I think of some of the people who Jesus interacted with and I can’t help but wonder about how good they felt after meeting Him. Now it’s true that not everyone felt so good after talking to Jesus, but those who were seeking to be built up spiritually sure did.
Think of the leper in Matthew 8:1-4 that Jesus touched! After being healed, Jesus reminded this man to give credit to God. Jesus built him up spiritually. Think of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. The crowd called him a sinner, but Jesus called him a son of Abraham! Imagine how those words would’ve built up someone like Zacchaeus spiritually.
Without a doubt Jesus knew how to give someone a hand! What about us? Do we know someone who could use our hand? EA
“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” (Romans 14:19)
keltonburg preacher 