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Wednesday... Now there are different attitudes in situations.


Ephesians 6:22 (MSG), "I've sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith."

Wednesday... Now there are different attitudes in situations.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter in the New Testament to the Ephesians while he was in prison. Paul was in chains. In Ephesians 6 he writes in verses 19-20 (MSG), "And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out."

I love how The Message puts it, he was a jailbird preacher. Paul didn't let his situation get in the way of living out God's purpose for his life. In fact it seems that his being a jailbird preacher was God's purpose to getting the Message out. He did write a big portion of the NT while in prison.

Now lattter in verses 21-22 he writes, "Tychicus, my good friend here, will tell you what I am doing and how things are going for me. He is certainly a dependable servant of the Master!" And Paul then says,  "I've sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith."


Oh. if we would realize that the trouble we are going through is an opportunity for us to encourage others who may also be in trouble. Too many times we just want to tell all about what we are going through. It is a great way for us to get attention and even sympathy but God has something more for us to do. "I've sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith."

The Amplified Bible says verse 22 this way. "I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and that he may comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts." Let's not waste what we are going through with sympathy but to comfort and encourage and strengthen their hearts and we all need that and we are all instruments of God to do that.

David says a great word of encouragement in Psalm 31:7 (NLT), "I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul." And verse 19, "How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to me for protections, blessing then before a watching world."

Yes, yes, God will be our protection and he wants us to encourage others through us even when we are going through trouble. Paul says, "I've sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith." So let's not waste our troubles but use then not to get sympathy but to cheer others on in their faith. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning


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