Encourage One Another

"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the LORD's work.

They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.

Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.

And live peacefully with each other."

1 Thessalonians 5:11-13

I love this passage. It's the essence of how we are to respond to each other in love. Jesus said that "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is EQUALLY important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all of the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Notice that every commandment, teaching, and prohecy HANG on these two commandments. This is the main theme running through the entire Bible! If we LOVE the LORD and LOVE others the way we are COMMANDED, then all we say, think, and do should be a natural reflection of this heart condition.

As humans, it's hard for us to completely overcome our imperfect nature. Jude 1:16 says, "These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves and they flatter others to get what they want." Now Jude was speaking of false teachers who had infiltrated the church. However, this assessment of those false teachers is the essence of what our imperfect human nature is drawn to. Left to our own devices, we all display these negative characteristics to some degree. These things discourage others. Discrouragement tears downs and destroys. However, Christ wants us to be completely opposite of this. Instead of grumbling and complaining, we are to speak encouraging words that lift up truth, instill joy, and bring peace. Instead of living to satisfy our own desires, we are to honor, respect, love, and live peacefully with others, especially those who are spiritual leaders. Instead of flattering others to get what we want, we are speak true encouragement that build up each other. Flattery speaks to pride. Encouragement speaks truth to ones spirit.

I, too, struggle with being encouraging. Christ can help us to live in love, to encourage one another and build each other up. When we let the Holy Spirit reign in our hearts He will help us to do so. Let's love and encourage those around us today. Don't allow a cynical, grumbling, discouraging spirit gain control. Let God's love, peace, and joy overflow your heart and spill over to bless others.

Simply put, love God, love people.

In His Love, Cathy