I Reach Out To You

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Acts 20 (Click Link)

1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. (Acts 20:1-2 NLT)

Paul reached out to the believers in Ephesus and encouraged them, then he encouraged the believers in each place he passed through. Whether it was by a visit to their city or by letters he wrote and sent to them from his prison cell, Paul constantly reached out to and encouraged the people God had made part of his life.

For the past two days, we’ve looked at Paul’s greeting to the Philippians and to the Thessalonians. These were people he loved. He missed them, he often wondered how they were doing, and even though he would likely never see them again, he wanted to encourage them any way he could. Paul said, “Whenever I think about you, I thank God for you!” He also told them that he prayed for them every time they crossed his mind.

Friends, every time we think of people, we can thank God for them! Every time we think of people, we can pray for them. (They will come to you!) But every time we think of people, we can also reach out to them and encourage them. We have so many tools to work with! When someone crosses your mind, you can phone them, you can text them, you can email them, you can send them a Facebook message, you can even write them a note or a card and send it in the mail! Amazing!

I’m developing this as a consistent practice. I’m working at it and getting better at being consistent. Today, I sent emails to friends in the US and Uganda. I texted my neighbor across the street to see how he and his wife are doing. I texted a friend I haven’t seen in a few years to thank him for his influence on me in a challenging season ten years ago.

Will you take a few minutes today to text, email, Facebook message, or phone someone you’re thankful for, or who has helped you? Will you begin to develop the practice of reaching out in loving, encouraging ways to people God brings to mind? Let’s do it!

Prayer:

Father, I want to give thanks for people, to pray for people, and to reach out to people, every time I think of them. Help me learn to do this consistently. Amen!