It seems to me that what the world needs now is a vast number of billboards saying, “My brothers and sisters, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak!”  In so many ways, the people of the world need advocacy and encouragement. Not everyone has the gift of exhortation, but I believe there would be enough of us with this gift if we would use it. Exhortation is the gift that enables a Christian to encourage or advise others to become mature in their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Romans (12:6-8) about this gift and it comes up again in the lessons from Acts today. Exhortation is not the same gift as teaching. It means to comfort and to advocate and it is the work of the Holy Spirit among us. To exhort is to attempt to bring out the best in others by rebuking them for their sins and then advocating for them while calling them to greater levels of spiritual maturity. That is tough duty. It means that those with the gift of exhortation, like Paul, will be prepared to agonize or struggle for the faith.

Still, the world needs more people of faith to act on this gift by encouraging others in their daily personal relationships, their families, and their communities. We also need more people of faith to use the gift of exhortation in our places of worship, work, recreation, and politics. The practice starts with rebuking and advising, but it cannot end there. We must also comfort and advocate for others to bring about growth and change. It is not so easy to play this role as it is not often appreciated by others, so we just mind our own business. But the real reason we do not use this gift is because we do not really know how to exhort.

Paul provides a good model for how to use this gift. Invited by the synagogue officials at Antioch to speak a word of exhortation, Paul called the God-fearing there present in the synagogue to listen again to the story of how God loves them. God chose their ancestors to be his people. Then they were given land as an inheritance, a king, and a promise of a savior. Paul further reminded them that they, and all the people of Israel, were called by John to a baptism of repentance in preparation of receiving that savior. This gift of baptism was evidence of the kindness and faithfulness of God that is established forever. We are baptized into the life and death of Jesus, which frees us from our sins. But that is not the end of it. Through Christ, we are given this freedom so that we can live our lives with great spiritual maturity and abundance.

So, what would happen if more of us were to speak the words of exhortation and encouragement to bring out the best in others who need to live lives of greater spiritual maturity and abundance? Too often we just condemn or ignore others who have become discouraged or disgusted with Christian teachings when they seem to have lost their way. “Not my problem, I hear too many people say.”  Yet, thanks be to God, many are indeed called by the Holy Spirit to agonize or struggle with the others for the faith. Thanks be to God; they have received the gift of exhortation as a gift of the Holy Spirit, and they are ready, willing, and able to use it. I pray today for all who exercise that gift. May they receive greater strength and courage. And may their numbers grow.