The Encourager

by Pastor Wade

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8

A month or so ago I stopped over at the Sukke’s to visit Paul. He had been battling hard against the cancer in his body and the treatments were taking their toll. It was not easy for him to get out or to get to worship. So, I went to visit. When I got there he welcomed me, took my coat and immediately said, “I made coffee for you.” (My reputation proceeds me!) And he poured a cup for both of us and got a little treat of some kind. It’s a cup of coffee that I won’t forget, not because of the coffee, but because of the service the cup represented. What made this significant for me was that Paul’s treatments and cancer made it difficult for him to take food or drink by mouth at this point and what he was offering was pure hospitality. Even when I might have imagined I was coming to take care of Paul, he was taking care of me, serving me. It was who he was.
I reflected on this even as I shared in Paul’s funeral yesterday. Paul was a gift to his family and his community in many ways, but the way I experienced his gifts were in his hospitality (think “Church dinner” or “pancake breakfast” or Rotary or Chamber of Commerce event) and in his encouragement of those around him. Paul was a gracious host and an encourager, even as he saw the end drawing near. He was an encourager to his family. He took each of them aside to assure them of his hope in Christ and the promise of resurrection life, and he even made sure to assure his pastors, Dave and me, of the same. He wanted all of us to know that if the end came, it wasn’t “goodbye;” “it was see you later.” Paul joined our “Letters from Dad” group last fall because he wanted to use the venue of letter-writing to gift his family for the future when he wouldn’t be able to verbally remind them of his love for them. It is one of the strengths of that particular letter writing ministry. It becomes a lasting legacy of encouragement.
We all need such encouragers in our lives, those who help us to keep the faith when we become discouraged or disheartened, whether we be family or friend or even pastor. Even as believers, we still have doubts and we still grieve the loss of those we love. Our heart still sinks when we hear the word “cancer” from the doctor’s lips. We need to hear each other’s confession of faith as an encouragement to our own faith. I believe that is one of the reasons the Lord Jesus places us in churches and faith communities – that we might support and encourage each other as we run the race of life together. I will miss my brother in Christ, Paul. He served a great cup of coffee and was an encourager to the very end.

So then, my dear ones, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless. Corinthians 15:51-58

Thanking God for you,

Pastor Wade

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