They have refreshed my spirit

1 Corinthians 16:18

For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

Thank God for Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus! What wonderful Christians they were! They refreshed the spirit of Paul and the spirits of the Corinthian believes. And how I love men and women like Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, for my spirit have they also refreshed! May God give us more of these precious and most valuable people. All the gold in the world cannot be compared to them. For their price is far above rubies! For you see, not everyone is a refresher. The advent of all people into this world and into our lives does not always come supplemented by refreshment. It may be that the advent of some is accompanied by dismal discouragement and downcast moods. But there are others! And the others bring the mood back up! They impart encouragement to hungry and thirsty souls! And we are just that—hungry and thirsty. What are we hungry for? The answer is most abundantly clear! We hunger and thirst for refreshment! Is that not what physical nourishment produces? Refreshment? Is that not what a crisp, clean, pure drink of the the water of the spring does for us? Does it not refresh our souls, enlightening our eyes and enlivening us with new vitality? Of course it does! Well, my dear friend, what a drink does for your body and soul physically, the refreshment of believes does for us spiritually.

Therefore acknowledge ye them that are such, says Paul. Yes, we must acknowledge these great gifts from on high. These wonderful beauties of the Christian fellowship. Those who bring joy and love to an otherwise monotonous and mediocre place. Thank God for them! And thank them today for the refreshment! Acknowledge these dear ones, for without them you would be dismal and depressed yourself. And now I must ask you the most important question. And it is: who will you refresh? Is there some soul God will bring along your path, that but for your encouragement may go about their day dry, famished, and starving? Can you lift up that dear one? Can you, as Stephanas did, addict yourself to the ministry of the saints? We must give the gospel every day, but this is not about giving the gospel! This is about refreshing the saints of God. Oh, dear Lord, thank you for the dear ones that have refreshed me! Brother or sister, refresh someone’s spirit today!

“Father, how we praise you and thank you for those wonderful and unique people that have refreshed our spirits over the years. And please, Lord, make us refreshers to others today. May someone who was unhappy be made happy. May someone who lost the fire and zeal find the flame again. May someone who had lost all hope and positivity be restored to the hope and love of Christ again through our gregarious words and actions. You have refreshed us even this morning. Please show us who to refresh today! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”