Encouraging others is a quality of Christian living. Parents encourage their children when they’re disappointed. Friends sharing their personal challenges encourage one another. Church members encourage their pastors… I’m writing this as if these encouragements are normal. They should be, but we don’t encourage one another as we ought. New Testament writers often used the Greek word “parakaleo.” In Romans 12:1 it’s translated various ways, “I urge, I appeal, I beseech,” many nuances but it’s about encouraging, “I encourage you by the mercies of God.”
The pulpit is where the church speaks publicly and the person speaking in the pulpit should be a great encourager. That’s not only because of apostolic example. It’s especially because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since God can raise the dead, he can bring you to a better situation than you are in now. But is Christ's resurrection the only motivation for our congregations? Might “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27) offer us, and now I’m thinking about us who preach, even more to encourage our people?
“Strive to enter through the narrow door,” says Jesus. “When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door…” The door is open now, but it will be closed. Obviously, Jesus is not talking about a physical door but about entering eternal salvation. He was responding to the question, “Lord, will those who are saved by few?” (Luke 13:23-25). Jesus lays responsibility for eternal salvation on each of us disciples individually. “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” No, you can’t save yourself, but you are the steward of God’s gift of salvation, no one else is. Salvation by grace through faith does not mean there’s nothing for you to do.
We often speak about the resurrection of Christ, but leave it there, back in the first century. The Creed doesn’t stop at the resurrection. “He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.” That’s when the Master of the house will close the door. It’s coming, the earnest praying and meditation and worship of stewards serious about salvation will be over. Holding this imminent day before our people, not to scare them but to urge them to a salutary fear of God, is part of the essence of encouragement. “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).