Exhortation: Encouraging & Uplifting People to Their Ultimate Potential
Have you ever had a super discouraging day, and someone unexpectedly had just the right words to encourage you and help you find a glimmer of hope? Or, maybe you were dreading and procrastinating starting something, and out of the blue, someone stepped into your path and motivated you to take action. You can probably think of a time or two when you have encountered a person with the gift of exhortation; people who have a talent for encouraging and uplifting people.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. –Romans 12:6-8
What is the Gift of Exhortation?
Using language intended to incite and encourage is how merriamwebster.com defines exhortation. Readers of the book, Discovering Who I Am From God’s Perspective, learn of one way that this gift can be displayed through a girl, Alicia. Encouraging her friend, Alicia reminds her schoolmate of her best qualities. Alicia can see beyond her friend’s current circumstances, remind her of her strengths, and encourage her of her potential. By the end of the conversation, Alicia’s friend felt much better about her circumstances, and her attitude changed from negative to positive.
Biblical Examples of Exhortation: Encouraging & Uplifting People to Their Ultimate Potential
Unquestionably, Barnabus had this gift. In Acts 4:36, we learn that his name literally means “son of encouragement.” Paul was also an exhorter. Working together as a team, Barnabas and Paul traveled to many regions in which they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith.
…they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. – Acts 14:21-22
Many of the prophets within the Old Testament also had this same gift from God. Urging people to follow God’s directions and live out their divine purpose was part of their everyday life. In particular, Moses constantly implored the Israelites to change their wicked ways, like in the following passage.
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. – Deuteronomy 30:15-16
Do You Know of Anyone that Posses the Gift of Exhortation?
Encouragers or exhorters see the best in people even when others don’t. Being fantastic listeners, they seek to accurately understand individual people. They try to understand why a person behaved in a particular way rather than seeing only the action they exhibit. Constantly reminding others that they can overcome their fear and failures, they urge them to tackle their dreams and live out their purpose.
Want to read about other Gifts of Grace from God? Here are links to the gift of prophecy, the gift of serving, the gift of teaching, the gift of mercy, the gift of giving, and the gift of leadership.