Just because you are leader doesn’t mean you are immune to discouragement. One major indication that you have succumbed to discouragement is that you become unconcerned with your personal relationships. And if you are discouraged, do not be embarrassed or ashamed. Today, I want to encourage you that you do not have to surrender to discouragement. You have the choice and power to flip your discouragement into encouragement.
Relationships are one of the main themes intertwined all throughout the bible beginning in Genesis through Revelation. We were made to be in relationship. God created us to be in relationship with Him and with each other.
In this short time, I just want focus on a small part in the Book of Hebrews. I would consider Hebrews to be a very encouraging book. The author of Hebrews does a great job of presenting an amazing picture of the supremacy of Jesus Christ, His Majesty, and His Ministry. However, he also gives five warnings about the danger of turning away from Christ: Danger of Neglect; Danger of Unbelief; Danger of Not Maturing; Danger of Drawing Back; and Danger of Refusing God. Under the warning of the danger of drawing back, we read all about the heroes of the faith, the example of Christ’s endurance and an exhortation to endure God’s chastening. Growing in grace is when you can look beyond the process of God’s discipline and see the peaceable fruit of righteousness that comes later.
“Many believers are deeply grieved, because they do not at once feel that they have been profited by their afflictions. Well, you do not expect to see apples or plums on a tree which you have planted but a week. Only little children put their seeds into their flower-garden, and then expect to see them grow into plants in an hour.” (Spurgeon)
Are you discouraged? Have you become unconcerned with relationships? In Hebrews 12:14-17, we see 4 things that are needed to make things right again.
1. Pursue Peace: Pursue is an action word and it means to run after or pursue in order to catch. We are to pursue (go after) peace with all people. Make things right in your relationships with people within your circle. If you need to apologize and ask for forgiveness, go, and apologize and ask for forgiveness. If you need to forgive, go, and forgive.
2. Pursue Holiness: Make things right in your relationship with God. Leviticus 19:2, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” As David Guzik’s commentary states, “Regarding holiness, we are told without which no will see the Lord. A lack of holiness is a critical obstacle to a close relationship with God.”
3. Pursue the Grace of God: Going after God’s grace will keep bitterness from coming up in your heart. Going after God’s grace will keep bitterness from spreading. Bitterness can come from holding on to pain and hurt of your past. When you focus on the grace of God, you can move past the pain and hurt and extend that grace God gives to you to others.
4. Pursue Pure Moral Behavior: Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” I love how The Message Bible reads, “Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.”
Life Application Questions
Are you discouraged?
Are your relationships suffering?
Are you willing to pursue peace, holiness, grace, and pure moral behavior?
