Once upon a time it was announced that the devil was going out of business and would sell all his equipment to those who were willing to pay the price.
On the big day of the sale,all his tools were attractively displayed.
There were Envy, Jealousy, Hatred, Malice, Deceit, Sensuality, Pride,Idolatry, and other implements of evil display.
Each of the tools was marked with its own price tag.
Over in the corner by itself was a harmless looking, wedge-shaped tool very much worn, but still it bore a higher price than any of the others.
Someone asked the devil what it was, and he answered, "That is Discouragement."
The next question came quickly,
"And why is it priced so high even though it is plain to see that it is worn more than these others?"
Because replied the devil, "It is more useful to me than all these others.
I can pry open and get into a man's heart with that when I cannot get near him with any other tool
Once I get inside, I can use him in whatever way suits me best. It is worn well because I use it on everybody I can, and few people even know it belongs to me."
This tool was priced so high that no one could buy it, and to this day it has never been sold.
It still belongs to the devil, and he still uses it on mankind.

    The need for mutual encouragement has always been important in the Christian life, but is even more so as the Day of the Lord approaches. One reason for this is the moral breakdown that is prevalent in these last days. Jesus forewarned us that before His return lawlessness would increase and most people’s love would grow cold (Matt. 24:12). Likewise, the Apostle Paul warned that in the last days difficult times would come, "…For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…" (2 Tim. 3:1-4). As we now find ourselves in the midst of such terrible conditions, we need to encourage one another all the more to "deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus" (Titus 2:12-13).