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Spurring One Another On: When Words Become a Lifeline
When I study a Bible verse, I sometimes look at the original Hebrew or Greek words behind the English translation. Other times, I look at synonyms for what a particular word might mean in everyday life.
Consider is an interesting word.
It can mean to think carefully, to reflect, or to give thoughtful attention to someone or something. To consider requires intention. An action isn't something we simply stumble into. Even something as simple as eating an ice cream cone requires intention and attention!
How much more intentional should I be about encouraging other believers to hope and trust in the Word of God—and offering that same encouragement to those who don't yet believe?
Then there is that second word: spur.
My first thought when I hear that word reminds me of horseback riding. A spur is meant to encourage a horse to move forward. And that gives me a picture of what Hebrews 10:24 asks us to do: seek opportunities (consider) to pray, speak words of comfort or instruction, offer help, or simply walk alongside someone when the going gets rough (spur).
That same idea has found its way into my storytelling.
Within the pages of my newest release, Letters from Texas, faith is woven throughout the story. Tilly and her son Abdon express it in the Spanish phrase, Tengo fe en Dios—“Have faith in God.”
Tilly and Abdon are separated by war and distance. They can't sit across the table from one another and offer encouragement. Their letters become the place where they can remind each other of something important. They weren't simply exchanging news. They were reminding each other who they were, what they believed, and where their hope rested.
When I'm writing, I'm not only asking, what happens next in the plot? I'm also asking, what does the reader need to hear? What truth might help someone face today's challenges or decisions?
Stories Behind the Stories
Despite the research work that historical fiction requires, it resonates with me because the people who lived through difficult years are not different from us today. The circumstances change. Technology changes. Decades—and even centuries—pass.
But people still need hope. Everyone, young and old, needs encouragement. People still need someone to remind them not to give up. That's where you and I come in.
Who is someone you need to consider?
Their struggle may not be as dramatic as a world war, but they may still need:
- A friend to help carry a load they are too weary to lift.
- Reassurance from a family member that love abounds.
- The kindness of a stranger's smile—someone who truly “sees” them.
- Comfort during a season of bereavement, sickness, or another life storm.
The way you may be led to “spur one another on” may not be some grand act. But it may supply exactly what is needed when you allow yourself to be an instrument in the Master's toolbox.
A phone call.A handwritten note.A text.A prayer.A meal.An invitation.A simple, “I'm thinking about you.”
As Christians, we're called to encourage one another. As writers, we have another opportunity to do that—through stories.
I work at my craft so readers will be entertained, perhaps even transported to another place and time. But my greatest hope is to leave behind a reminder of faith—and of the faithful One.
Who can you encourage this week?
Karen Lopez resides in Louisiana. She loves to travel, but the Bayou State has always been “home.” Besides travel, her other passions include cooking, reading, and, of course, writing.
Before becoming a novelist, Karen wrote articles, blogs, and short stories for local periodicals. Now readers around the world enjoy her inspirational fiction.
When Karen isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, who often visit her rural home in Louisiana, perusing new arrivals at her favorite indie bookstores, or people-watching while enjoying a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea in her favorite cafe.
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