Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NABRE
Paul is writing to the community at Thessalonica, many think this may have been the first letter Paul wrote, and so it has some of his earliest recorded thoughts. He is ending the letter challenging the community to live in the light. He indicates that trouble happens in the dark and we should be children of the light, let all our thoughts be exposed, let all our actions be exposed, let our faith be exposed. If we are not proud of who we are or what we are doing we do it when no one is looking. But as followers of Jesus, who will return and lift all the people of the light up with Him, we should always be in the light, let every aspect of our life be exposed. Jesus died for the salvation of all and so if we are in the light we can expect to rise to the light. Paul ends this section with a word to encourage one another. Paul knows life is hard and there are many challenges and so those who are part of the community of Christ should look after one another. Jesus came to unite us as one, like He and the Father are one. Paul uses the language of the body, we are all part of one body, whether we know it or not. So we should care about the others in the community as we care about all the parts of our body. Paul not only encourages the community to lift each other up, he tells them he does the same. He does all he can to encourage them.
When you are a member of a community it means you care about the community, this can usually only be shown by your relationship with others in the community, so if you are in, raise up all who are in with you.
How do you encourage others? Are you a member of the community living in the light?
When you are a member of a community it means you care about the community, this can usually only be shown by your relationship with others in the community, so if you are in, raise up all who are in with you. Share on X#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #encourage #community #Paul #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways