1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11 – “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT. Did we know that encouraging other Christians is a command to obey? It is not something to think about. Nor are we off the hook in the ministry of encouragement by personality type. Being a quiet introvert does not excuse us from active obedience to this command. And it is not just today’s scripture exhorting such obedience.
“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13 – NASB).
How do we exercise this ministry of encouragement? The only restriction is within us. First, to actively obey this command we must forget ourselves. The Apostle Paul points us to the truth of focusing on others more than ourselves – “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interest of others” (Philippians 2:4). We will never be faithful to this command until we put the interests or good of others ahead of our personal interests.
The next thing we are to do is simply be creative. There are so many ways to encourage others. We have the quick means of communication like texts, emails, messages, and phone calls. We also may do the old fashion way of “snail mail” with a card or short note. Again, the only restriction is within us.
Now what might be the substance of our ministry of encouragement? This too is simple. We point Christians to Jesus. It might be today’s scripture and the promise of His return. Or we share the truth of Jesus as our Shepherd, King, Priest, and Prophet. The key to the ministry of encouragement is to keep each other from focusing on our circumstances, our sins, and ourselves. We want to help each other focus or look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).
The ministry of encouragement is for all Christians, and it is so important because all Christians need it on a regular basis. May we find ourselves active in such a vital ministry in the body of Christ.
PRAYER: Father, help me always be active in the ministry of encouragement to your people.
REFLECTION: Encouragement to others is a command to obey and a privilege to exercise.