Encourage one another and build each other up … 1 Thessalonians 5:11
We are taught to encourage one another – it builds unity, builds the individual believers and so builds the body. There are lots of ways to do this.
But in one instance Paul tells us specifically what to say.
Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18
He preceded that exhortation with a reminder that those in the Lord that we’ve lost will rise again. That surely He is coming back and we will be together with each other and with Him. Those are the words meant for our encouragement.
Life is hard. We all suffer loss and pain. And in the midst of our troubles, we need reminders. The resurrection is real. Jesus is coming. Life is ahead.
This is not to brush off our distress. We still feel pain and we are called to join in suffering with one another. But the Truth gives us perspective and in faith we find hope.
Be gentle, my friends, but remind me of these truths when my heart is cast down. Let me know you suffer with me as Jesus does. I will remind you, my brothers and sisters, as well. We need one another.
Be encouraged. He is coming. He will raise us up. We will be with Him.
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
