“May our LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF
AND GOD OUR FATHER (as if Jesus was not enough to say),
who loved us and by his GRACE, GAVE (past tense)
us ETERNAL ENCOURAGEMENT (eternal encouragement!)
and good hope (AND HOPE…strength to go forward),
ENCOURAGE (AGAIN, more encouragement, here present tense, just in case “eternal encouragement” was not enough)
your hearts (your very inner being)
AND STRENGTHEN you (from his own very life,giving us strength to keep walking)
in EVERY good deed (in all we do)
and word (in all we say).” 2 Thess. 2:16

God is very serious about making sure we stay encouraged. He takes that responsiblity onto His very self: here, through Jesus, God the Father, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

I just want us to be clear here: God will NOT leave us wanting for courage if he still has work for us to do.

If read that there is nothing God tackles in scripture with his people more than fear and down-heartedness.

Yes! He uses the body, we need each other, and we could do better. Yet, he doesn’t leave us at the mercy of mortal, fallible men in this area.

Yet, I know that leading worship is a very tricky thing. We NEED to weigh response: did I inspire? Did I draw people’s hearts to the Father? Do I need to be doing this?

But, He has you there. As long as He has you there…keep going strong! Keep pouring yourself out as an offering. Keep being used and abused. Jesus was (see the first verse above). We will be. I am so guilty of saying, “Lord USE ME!”, then praying, “Lord, I feel so USED!” or, wanting with all my heart to be poured out ‘as a drink offering’, then feeling almost bitter for feeling so “wasted”…???

What do we do, but be re-filled?

I remember that man who said, “I don’t remember every meal my wife fixed over the last year. I can’t give you many of the menus. All I know is that I’ve been fed.” There may be times people are reading email while they eat, or watching TV, or on the phone. They may not comment about the food. But, they still need to eat. They are being fed. If they weren’t being fed, they wouldn’t come back.

Oh! Be encouraged. You ARE a giver of good courage.

Great, great post! No, you’re not being cynical at all. You’re calling those out! Not only do the takers rob the body – they lose their fervor. They miss out big time on the blessing of serving. They atrophy and die off…it’s real. It’s sad.

“If we’re not giving we’re just taking.”

Good challenge for each of us. It is hard to watch people who should be edifying just sit there. I pray we can all lovingly encourage each other to service.