Daily Devotional For Monday, June 2, 2025
Good morning and welcome to Monday. One of the best things we can do as believers is encourage one another and even non-Christians. Our world is filled with put-downs, criticisms, insults, name-calling, etc. It's bad enough to have to attempt to get through this life and it is worse to feel the world is against you. You’ve heard, “Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down” right? Well, a spoonful of encouragement makes the stress of life more bearable. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitful” (NASB). Notice this is a command we are to do daily. I love this story below about a social worker at his elementary school:
“When he was a kid, Kevin Boyer's parents left him special notes in his lunch box. Now he's keeping that tradition alive with his own students. Boyer is the family and student support coordinator at Gorsuch West Elementary in Lancaster, Ohio. Last year, he wrote a personalized letter to every student in the school, and he's doing it again this year.
Every day, he pens six notes, so that by the last day of school, he will have written a letter to all 600 students. Boyer makes it a point to learn the name of every kid in the school. He also finds out their interests and hobbies so when it's time to write their letters, they are one-of-a-kind. Boyer told local reporters that some students tape their letters to their desks, while others have told him they proudly display the notes on their refrigerators at home” (Source: Catherine Garcia, “School social worker writes notes of encouragement to all 600 of his students,” The Week, 11-11-18).
Who could you encourage today, this week? The unfortunate reality is that Christians are not always known as encouragers, and churches are not always known as encouraging places. But that is something we can change and should change. Whether in person or through a text, email, or phone call, I hope you will seek out a couple of people every day and say or do something to encourage them. Each of you will be blessed — and you may have an opportunity to tell how Jesus encourages you.
If you think this is some too hard to do, read this next story and tell me it still is:
“After Dustin and Caren Moore asked a flight attendant for help changing their newborn daughter, they received much, much more than what they asked for. Jenny, one of the flight attendants working the Southwest flight, happened to ask the parents why they were flying with such a young baby. And when she found out that the Moores had newly adopted their first and only child, Jenny sprang into action. Enlisting the help of her workmate Bobby and other members of the Southwest flight crew, Jenny surreptitiously organized an impromptu baby shower. Bobby came back and asked a few other questions, which initially left the Moores confused.
Caren Moore told reporters, “Five minutes later, Bobby came on the intercom and said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, there’s a very special guest on the flight today. She’s only 8 days old and she’s traveling home with her mom and dad.’” After the passengers burst into applause, the crew then passed out pens and napkins and encouraged them to jot down notes of advice, love and encouragement, some of which were eventually read aloud. Meanwhile, plenty of folks stopped by to offer their compliments for the baby and congratulations to her parents.
After arriving home, Dustin contacted Southwest to offer his gratitude. “For an entire crew of strangers to come together like that, to partake like that, to show us that kind of love and kindness meant everything to us” (Source: Allison Klein, “A couple flew home with their adopted infant. Strangers threw an impromptu baby shower on the plane,” The Washington Post, 2-13-20).
Let’s not be outdone in encouraging others by the world. If flight attendants and passengers on a Southwest Flight can do this for new parents of an adoptive child, we can as well. Please do not procrastinate on doing this. Just do it. Even if the person never says, “Thank you,” do it anyway. Why? Colossians 3:23-24 says this, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (24) Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ” (NLT). The point is that when we encourage anyone, we are doing for the Lord.
Assignment: Take time to think of some people who need encouragement. How might your impact on people’s lives increase if you become known as someone who always has something encouraging to say? Think of someone who could use encouragement today, then be faithful to deliver it. Send them a card, or note or letter. Or send them something encouraging via a text message or email or even better, call them on the phone or go up to them personally. Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, that whatever we do for someone else we have done it to Him.
Scripture To Meditate On: Colossians 3:23, “Whatever things you are doing, do them well. Remember that you are serving the Lord. You are not only serving people” (ESY).
Prayer To Pray: “Heavenly Father, teach me how to encourage, walk alongside, truly help, honor, and respect others. Give me eyes to see those who need a word of encouragement and use my life to bring Your hope and light into the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly