Welcome to "Tuesday Mornings," a source of encouragement and inspiration for Christian leaders everywhere.

 

The Bible is literally full of stories of heroism. One of my favorites is found in 1 Samuel, Chapter 14. The "hero" is Jonathan, son of King Saul. With only his armor-bearer backing him up, Jonathan took on an outpost of Philistine soldiers and almost single-handedly killed twenty of the enemy. It is a story of courage, but there is a story within the story. Jonathan had at his side a young armor-bearer, whose name we do not know. While Jonathan was experienced in battle and was equipped for hand-to-hand fighting, all we know about the armor-bearer is that he was young, that he carried Jonathan's armor, and that he cleaned up after him. Verse 13 reads,

 

"Jonathan climbed up (toward the outpost), using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him."

 

This is a story of war. You won't find it among Bible stories to tell to young children. But it is there. And one of the powerful truths in the story is that without his armor-bearer standing with him, backing him up, the end result might have been much different.

 

We all need someone to stand with us when we are facing threatening times. We need people to pray for us, to stand with us, to support us, and at great personal risk, to "go to the wall" for us.

 

This week's epistle is entitled "There for You." Continue reading whenever you are ready, and then look for opportunities this week to stand with a friend who needs encouragement, and encourage them. It will make their day, and it could change their world.

 

Tom Barnard

A Senior Encourager

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There for You

Tom Barnard

 

ow many people are there in your life to whom you have said, “I will be there for you when you need me”? One…two…ten? How many people have said those words to you recently? One…two…? You should be really serious when you tell someone that. They might believe you. Recently my insurance agent sent out an ad that contained this statement:

 

“When things go wrong, we can help make them right.”

 

On the back side of the advertisement the message was repeated again, only in a different way:

 

“We’re here to help you when you need it most.”

 

I wish that were true. I wish there were someone powerful enough and wise enough and loving enough and resourceful enough to guarantee that when a problem arises, he would be there for me. Unconditionally. For as long as I would need him. No matter the cost. How I wish I knew someone like that. Don’t you?

 

Several years ago a friend sent a note to some of his friends. In it he said that he had become a Kenny Chesney fan. (I have no idea who Kenny Chesney is). He referred to Kenny’s album, “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem.” Even if you aren’t a country music fan, you gotta love that title. The world says it differently: “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service.” Outa luck, pilgrim.

 

Opportunities for helping a friend can quickly pass. My friend continued,

 

 “You will regret important things in your life if you don’t take action when it’s time for action. The timing of right action is not all yours to choose. When a friend needs an assuring word…they need it when they need it. When your working partner needs help to meet a deadline…that’s the time to drop your own project for a while. Since you spend the majority of your waking time working, many of the opportunities to add value to the lives of people you care about happen at work. Be ready. This could be the day for you to change the world of someone close to you.”

 

I received an urgent request on Sunday afternoon from another friend, Larry, who pastors in New York. He requested prayer for a close friend who had just suffered a serious heart attack that day. At the hospital it was discovered that one of the arteries in his heart was 90% blocked. The friend was in a cardiac care unit in a Massachusetts hospital. Larry said, “Having spent the whole day with him last Friday and finishing with dinner before I headed home, I am in some disbelief and of course I am concerned for him and his family and church.”

 

Larry reminisced briefly about a time of crisis in his own personal life several years ago. At the depth of his distress, his friend had sent him an email with a simple message:

 

“Let me be your safe harbor.”

 

That’s what “being there” for someone means. Larry is that “safe harbor” for his friend now. I believe it was in that spirit Jesus said to his disciples (Matthew 11:28),

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

 

Someone you know needs to hear those same words from Jesus—and from you. Someone you know is hurting, or lonely, or bereaved, or sick, or discouraged. Get word to them today that you want to “be there” for them. They will never forget it. And it may change their world.