Christian Daily Devotions-E-Cheer.com-Rebuke vs. Encourage

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"A verse ev'ry day keeps doubt away; hide God's Word in your heart"

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Title: Rebuke vs. Encourage
by David George

Betty says that I'm in charge of all the small things. Unfortunately, nothing small ever seems to happen.

A faithful reader wrote with the joyful news that her husband was just licensed to the ministry. I sent him this familiar quote from 2 Tim.4:2 (nlt), "Preach the Word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." A number of you are also pastors, both active and retired. You well know how difficult it is in today's complex society to be patient and encouraging when you are saddled with people's many problems. It is often easier to rebuke than encourage, so balance is my encouragement to you. Also, be an encourager to your pastor, please.

Let's face it, isn't the same true of us -- we would often rather rebuke than encourage? Judging from the e-mail I get, people are in desperate need of encouragement and don't need to be told how bad they are. They usually know, at least inwardly, even if they don't admit it openly. I've heard preachers who constantly hammered us on the head with rebuke but seldom encouraged us. That is the other unfavorable side of the coin. Again, there is need for that phenomenal word, balance. I go to church to get built up, not beat up. How about you?

E-Cheer is provided by David George a stroke victim layman and meant to be a source of encouragement and uplift by providing a jump-start for your day.

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In 1997 I had a stroke that crippled my left side. Upon release from therapy I started a ministry of daily e-mail devotions called E-Cheer to encourage others. I am a layman, having spent my career as service manager for the Allen Organ Co.