Encourage One Another With These Words
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."
We are living in the end times; that is, we are living in the time between Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father and his second coming. As Jesus warned his disciples, the days are hard. In Matthew, Jesus said that there would be wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, false prophets, and lawlessness (Matthew 24:3-14). Certainly, we have felt the pain of life in this world, especially since the rise of Covid-19 followed by racial tensions, and an election season like none other in American history. How can we stay encouraged throughout all the trials and tribulations of this world?
Paul answered that question in his first letter to the Thessalonians. In the previous verses, Paul reminded them not to grieve without hope. Death is not the final word for one who believes in Jesus Christ. There is the promise of a resurrected life. Then for those who are still in the tribulation, Paul encouraged them to remember that Christ will come again. When he comes, those who have gone to be with the Lord will rise, and all of God's people will be with the Lord and with each other. This will be our eternal state - united with God and united with God's people. God's people can place their hope in that promise!
Paul tells the church in Thessalonica that they are to encourage one another with these words. The days are hard, but the Lord is coming back. There will be a resurrection and an eternal life together in the Lord. Thus, Paul instructed believers to spur each other on, not to lose hope, not to be consumed with earthly grief or with earthly problems, but to look to the promises of God and the future that is promised to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you need that same encouragement today? Covid-19 can bring death, but it is temporary; sin and injustices throughout history can result in division between God's people, but that division is also temporary. In Christ, we will all be united one day. Elections come to an end and then are repeated in two or four years. As God's people, we are called to persevere through the trials and tribulations of our day and to encourage ourselves and others in God's promises. We are also to seek that unity and peace while on the earth. Be humble, seek to serve others, forgive and ask to be forgiven, love those who disagree with you. God's kingdom is both now and not yet. May we be faithful to live as God's salt and light in the "now" and look forward to the glorious eternal life we will enjoy with the Lord and his people in the "not yet." There is always hope in the Lord!
Reflection:
Do you think about the second coming of Christ? How would the Lord have you take encouragement in that promise today?
We are living in the end times; that is, we are living in the time between Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father and his second coming. As Jesus warned his disciples, the days are hard. In Matthew, Jesus said that there would be wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, false prophets, and lawlessness (Matthew 24:3-14). Certainly, we have felt the pain of life in this world, especially since the rise of Covid-19 followed by racial tensions, and an election season like none other in American history. How can we stay encouraged throughout all the trials and tribulations of this world?
Paul answered that question in his first letter to the Thessalonians. In the previous verses, Paul reminded them not to grieve without hope. Death is not the final word for one who believes in Jesus Christ. There is the promise of a resurrected life. Then for those who are still in the tribulation, Paul encouraged them to remember that Christ will come again. When he comes, those who have gone to be with the Lord will rise, and all of God's people will be with the Lord and with each other. This will be our eternal state - united with God and united with God's people. God's people can place their hope in that promise!
Paul tells the church in Thessalonica that they are to encourage one another with these words. The days are hard, but the Lord is coming back. There will be a resurrection and an eternal life together in the Lord. Thus, Paul instructed believers to spur each other on, not to lose hope, not to be consumed with earthly grief or with earthly problems, but to look to the promises of God and the future that is promised to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you need that same encouragement today? Covid-19 can bring death, but it is temporary; sin and injustices throughout history can result in division between God's people, but that division is also temporary. In Christ, we will all be united one day. Elections come to an end and then are repeated in two or four years. As God's people, we are called to persevere through the trials and tribulations of our day and to encourage ourselves and others in God's promises. We are also to seek that unity and peace while on the earth. Be humble, seek to serve others, forgive and ask to be forgiven, love those who disagree with you. God's kingdom is both now and not yet. May we be faithful to live as God's salt and light in the "now" and look forward to the glorious eternal life we will enjoy with the Lord and his people in the "not yet." There is always hope in the Lord!
Reflection:
Do you think about the second coming of Christ? How would the Lord have you take encouragement in that promise today?
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