When it comes to sports, one can never belittle the importance of a podium full of cheerers. That's why a home-court advantage makes a significant impact to a team's performance. It's not always evident, but there is nothing more empowering than having a group of people cheer you on as you compete for a win.
In any area of life, the same holds true. Inside every person is a desire - even a dependence - on receiving encouragement. That's why Paul urges in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." We can never belittle the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who can tell us things like "you can do it," "we're here for you" or "hang on, you're almost there."
One of the most significant examples of the importance of encouragement is evident in the life of Paul. After turning to Jesus Christ, not a lot of Christians were comfortable with him. In fact, many were afraid of him and wanted nothing to do with him because of his past reputation of being a persecutor of Christians.
No one stood by his side. None except a man named Barnabas. The name Barnabas means son of encouragement (Acts 4:36) and that's exactly what this man was. When no one stood by, affirmed, accepted and encouraged Paul, he did. Acts 9:27 tells us, "But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus."
If Barnabas had not been Paul's cheerleader, there would probably be no Apostle Paul. None of the things Paul accomplished - all the churches he planted, epistles he wrote or people he equipped - would have ever happened.
From Barnabas, we learn two important things when it comes encouragement - that we should be ready to be cheerleaders for others and that we should surround ourselves with cheerleaders as well. And while church community and family can be great sources of encouragement, the most important cheerleader we will ever have is God himself. It's by the perfect love of Christ that all fear is cast out of us (1 John 4:18).
That's why it's important to abide in Christ so that we may receive encouragement from Him through the Holy Spirit, and as we become recipients of His encouragement, we will also then be a challenge of life and encouragement to others. In Christ, we can always have home court advantage, and that advantage guarantees us the victory as long as we put our hope and trust in knowing that He has our backs and He will cheer us on all the way. As you press on towards whatever goal, know that Jesus is at courtside cheering you on.
