Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Encouragement is Life on Life!

Dear Friend,  

Consider how intensely personal spiritual encouragement may be.

For example, the apostle Paul writes, “we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”  I Thessalonians 1:8

Paul and those with him didn’t just share ideas or concepts or faith but their own lives, that’s as personal as it gets. He makes no mention of activities, programs, books or resources (not that they don’t play a role), but simply the encouragement of life on life!

Later he observes that, “we exhorted each of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” I Thessalonians 1:12

Here we see encouragement is not only personal, it’s very focused on spiritual encouragement. More that “you can do it, be strong, hang in there, keep your chin up,” its imploring people to live in a manner worthy of the Lord who loves them.

When is the last time someone looked you in the eye and spoke in ways that encouraged your Christian life? When is the last time you spoke in such a way to someone else?

Be conscious of the people in your life and look for appropriate ways to encourage their relationship with the Lord of their lives.

Joy to you - Stan

© Copyright 2022 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

1. Can you recall a person at any time in your life who encouraged your spiritual life? What was said, how did it affect you?
2. Have you ever encouraged the spiritual life of someone else, child or adult, person to person?
3. Think of a person in your life with whom you are comfortable, who shares your faith, and whom you will seek some simple way to encourage in their faith - and do it! Then share with a friend or a group you are in what happened!
4. A great way to encourage people spiritually is to become prayer partners with them, perhaps just for a week or month. For some tips, listen to this podcast: https://www.buildingoneanother.com/episodes/make-a-prayer-covenant

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash