If you have ever had a truly good senior flight attendant as a mentor he or she probably held you to high standards but also frequently gave you “pats on the back” when they noticed you doing something well on the job. Seeing such a person being an “encourager” is likely what drew you to emulate them in the first place.
Real spiritual growth is not a function of the fleshly effort engendered by “do ever more” messages ─ they do far more harm than good to those who are struggling with real surrender to God. Only one thing can bring anyone deeper into the Christian life and that is progressively receiving the unconditional love of God in real time.
His grace received everyday is the only real source of sanctification and surrender.
Yes, there is room for exhortation in bringing this to pass, but it is only the kind of exhortation that comes from balanced teaching motivated by love and meekness in the heart of the teacher.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” -Romans 8:31 (ESV)
