Magic Penny 
This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.  

 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Do you remember the song about the Magic Penny?  Here are the first two verses to refresh your memory:

Love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

It's just like a magic penny,
Hold it tight and you won't have any.
Lend it, spend it, and you'll have so many
They'll roll all over the floor.  (Song written by Malvina Reynolds)

One way to give love away to others is by encouraging them.  Since we are made in the image of God, we all possess some of God’s great qualities.  So even if we are not always kind, or always honest, or always selfless, and so on, there are times when each of us displays those qualities (even if it is just for a moment!). When we encourage others, we have opportunity to move them closer to God’s design for them when we recognize God’s wonderful traits in that person.

Sometimes we don’t encourage others for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps we are too busy and self-absorbed. Or, perhaps pride and jealousy keep us from affirming others, or maybe we are afraid of being misunderstood. When we withhold encouragement, we can actually become agents of discouragement to others. When we withhold encouragement, we withhold love.

Today, I challenge you to become an expert in encouragement.  Here are three ways you can encourage someone.  1. Affirm Physical Traits (See Psalm 139 – for an example of affirming what God created).  2.  Affirm Character Traits (like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, honesty, integrity, etc.). 3.  Serve Others (See Galatians 5:13).

When we encourage and show love, it is just like the magic penny.  When we hold it close, we have none.  When we give it away, it comes back tenfold.

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GOING DEEPER:

1. Who in your life is in need of encouragement right now?  How can you encourage them?

2. In your life, how does encouragement make you feel?  What holds you back at times from encouraging others?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 139; Colossians 3; Galatians 5:13-15

Kelly McFadden currently works at Mariners Church Southern California. She and her husband Michael are the new parents of Campbell McFadden.


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