ESV says, ‘mutually encouraged’, in other words, a two way street. Do you ever spend
time with people who do all the talking and never stop to consider you have a life and
challenges you are facing? Life isn’t supposed to be consumed upon ourselves but by
mutual edification we are to build each other up. Oxfords online dictionary says
encourage means to give support, confidence, or hope to (someone). Paul writes from
Romans 15:32 that in coming to them with a heart full of joy ...’we will be an
encouragement to one another.’
The bible word is sumparakaleo (συμπαρακαλέω, 4837), sun, “with,” and No. 1,1.
parakaleo (παρακαλέω, 3870 “to be comforted) and signifies “to comfort together,”
Did you notice how this word is the same word used for the Holy Spirit as our comforter;
parakaleo?
Courage to me always speaks about strength: a heart that is strengthened by the
promises of God to remain stedfast in His way to achieve His purposes. We are
exhorted to be strong in the Lord. We are commanded to pray and not to lose heart.
We are instructed to continually feed upon the word of God for it is our life source.
Today we see when we come together it should be for the purpose of encouraging and
edifying one another. Our person relationships should be a strength to us. They are a
resource God uses to flow through. According to Ephesians it is not simply our
connection to the head, but where the parts connect we find our strength.
Paul understood the necessity of the body. He valued his connections, recognizing his
need for their support and prayers to continue with the work, he sought to always come
to them in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ for their well being.
Mutually encouraged.
Ephesians reminds us that our words are to minister grace to the hearer. In a world
filled with negativity let us remember to partner with the Holy Spirit and be agents of
hope by the encouragement we bring one another.