March - 7
SURPRISING ENCOURAGEMENT
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened . . . . Hebrews 3:13
In 1958 the first Tchaikovsky Piano Competition was held in Moscow. A 23-year-old participant from the United States, Van Cliburn, played so masterfully that he received an eight-minute standing ovation. He won first prize, received a hero’s welcome back in the U.S., and enjoyed coverage in the worldwide press.
Few people, however, know what Van Cliburn did with his prize, an expensive car. To the dismay of Soviet authorities, he donated it to the only evangelical church permitted in Moscow at that time. Van Cliburn had visited that church for Sunday worship and was so moved by the stories of persecuted believers there that he decided to encourage them in this unexpected way.
Encouraging one another is an important part of our daily walk with Christ. We live in a world corrupted by unbelief, sin, and, at times, persecution. How can we stay firm in our faith? Scripture gives us this recipe: love, encourage, and pray for one another. In God’s grace, the Holy Spirit uses these acts of mutual care to see us through the most trying of times.
When fellow believers are struggling, be quick to extend your helpful, sharing hand. Be graceful and generous. Offer words of comfort and prayer, as well as tangible acts of help. Encourage people around you, and be surprised by how much you are encouraged yourself!
PRAYER
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened . . . . Hebrews 3:13
第一届柴可夫司基钢琴大赛在一九五八年于莫斯科举行，当时一位二十三岁、来自美国的参赛者Van Cliburn，演出极其优秀，观众起立鼓掌，维持了八分钟之久。他结果得了冠军，回美国时他受到英雄式的欢迎，而他的名字也在世界各地的报章头条报导。
然而甚少人知道，Van Cliburn如何处置他赢得的那辆名贵汽车；他把汽车捐赠给当时在莫斯科唯一得到官方允准的一间福音教会，他此举令苏俄政府感到十分惊愕。Van Cliburn曾参加该教会的主日崇拜，他听到信徒受逼迫的故事后大受感动，于是决定用这个出人意料之外的行动来鼓励他们。
彼此鼓励是与基督同行的要素。活在这个充斥着不信、罪恶、甚至有时被逼迫的世代，我们怎样才能保持信心坚定呢？圣经给我们一道良方：彼此相爱、鼓励、和代祷。借着神的恩典，圣灵使用我们的彼此关顾，来帮助我们度过最困难的时刻。
若有信徒在困难中挣扎，我们应立刻伸手支持他们，当温柔乐意地安慰他们和为他们祷告，并以实际行动帮助他们。通过鼓励周围的人，你自己也会得到出人意料之外的鼓励呢！
祷告
父啊，我们每天走信心之路时，常有忠心的信徒在鼓励我们，我们赞美祢。求祢把祢的爱赐给我们，好叫我们学效祢鼓励别人。阿们。