Why Do I Write? (Part 3)

Firstly, I write to crystallize my thoughts to understand the convictions of my heart.

Secondly, I write to express the faith and hope that abides within me as an anchor for my soul.

Now, thirdly, I write to encourage others in the faith and hope that abides within me.

“Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement)…”  [Acts 4:36 ESV]

Barnabas is given a name according to his character, how he lived his life: as an encourager. His interactions with others focused on encouraging them in a myriad of ways: build up in confidence, inspire with hope, comfort in sickness, strengthen in resolve of character, console in loneliness, breathe words of living hope, etc. In this mindset Christ walked as the example He would have us follow.

Paul, also, calls us to this example. So I, too, strive to walk in this example as an encourager to others to be pleasing to God.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up….”  [1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV]

One way I desire to encourage is through writing about faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ in various forms. In Bible studies, the writing is to present organized thoughts about God’s word that it is true and faithful in all He says and all He does. In poetry, the aim is to show my faith and hope in pictures and verse. In Bible nuggets, the idea is to present a thought to ponder and meditate upon for the day. Then there is the occasional devotional or short story to advance a theme to encourage in God’s holy word.  

In choosing this path to tell who God is, I hope to encourage others to see God as the God of encouragement and comfort, and then they share it with still others as He purposes.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  [2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV]

Therefore, I write to encourage others with the comfort in which I have been comforted by my God. I write to encourage others in the faith and hope that abides within me because of God’s great comfort.

Next time: Why do I write? (Part 4)