A Mutual Encouragement in Faith
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11–12 NIV)
Devotional Thought - Has there ever been a time in your life when you really needed encouragement? Paul was traveling around spreading the Good News. There were probably a lot of lonely nights and he is writing to those that he knew had the same faith that he did. He understood the profound significance of fellowship and the unwavering support of Christian friends. He was keenly aware of the essential nature of these bonds.
Paul, in his letter to the Romans, expresses a deep longing to visit them, not merely for a casual encounter, but to impart spiritual gifts that would strengthen their faith. He desired mutual encouragement, a reciprocal exchange of faith, where both he and the believers in Rome would find comfort and edification in one another's presence. This paints a vivid picture of fellowship as more than just friendly gatherings; it is a divinely ordained space for spiritual growth, support, and shared strengthening.
These Christian friendships do not just show up in our lives, but instead, we have to be intentional in making them. We learn from Proverbs 18:24 that “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” We must cultivate our own character to mirror what we are looking for in a friend. Paul shows us this throughout his writings. How are you at being a good friend?
Prayer - Lord, show me how to be a good friend. Teach me to be kind, empathetic and a good listener. Help me also find these same attributes in those friends around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Follow Up Activity - Make a list of 10 qualities you would like to have in a friend. Then, briefly review your list and grade yourself on each of these characteristics. If you want to take it a step further, ask someone close to you how they believe you are doing with reflecting these qualities.
