Encourage One Another with God’s Truth

When you encourage one another, what is the source of your encouragement? God’s Word directs us to share God’s truth and love with one another. We demonstrate God’s love when we esteem one another and when we are kind, tenderhearted, and compassionate to one another.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Galatians 2:20 NLT

Esteem One Another

Encouragement tenderly administers God’s heart to one another as we maintenance and strengthen our marriage and relationships. When we esteem our mate, we see them as particularly important – even more important than oneself. Living in union with God, we ascribe the value that God ascribes, giving the credit and honor that God affords.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 

Philippians 2:3 ESV

Be Kind One to Another

Kindness invests the grace of God into our mate’s life. To be kind to one another evidences an overflowing communion with Christ, which graciously furnishes what is needed.

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 

2 Timothy 2:24 NIV

Be Tenderhearted and Compassionate One to Another

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 

1 Peter 3:8–9 NKJV

Many are surprised at how quickly their spouse softens when they are tenderhearted. The tender heart where mercy resides displays sympathy, while a compassionate heart displays empathy.

How are you encouraging one another? This series of posts on the One Anothers of Scripture primarily focuses on marriage relationships since we wrote about it in Marriages that Minister. However, the One Anothers apply to all relationships! Can you imagine what your church would be like if everyone lived out the One Another as God designed?

Insight Journal

How are you doing with each of these expectations?

• Esteem one another
  • Meets expectations
  • Exceeds expectations
  • Improvement needed
  
  
• Be kind to one another
  • Meets expectations
  • Exceeds expectations
  • Improvement needed
  
  
• Tenderhearted one to another
  • Meets expectations
  • Exceeds expectations
  • Improvement needed
  
  
• Compassionate to one another
  • Meets expectations
  • Exceeds expectations
  • Improvement needed

Other posts in the One Another series:

• How to Love One Another in Marriage
• Enlighten One Another about God’s Truth
• Enrich One Another with God’s Truth
• Encounter One Another with God’s Love
• Experience One Another through God’s Love
• Enable One Another to Find God’s Will
• Empower One Another with God’s Truth
• Engage One Another with Hospitality

Excerpts from Marriages that Minister by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis. Available from your favorite book retailers, including Amazon and Redemption Press. (As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.)

Would you like a more in-depth study of Marriages that Minister? Enroll now in our Teachable Marriages that Minister class.

Read more about Marriages that Minister: A Portrait of Christ and His Bride.

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