Uplifting one another
Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing... Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11, 14-15
In a recent survey that came out on the decline in the number of people claiming they are Christians is very alarming. There is a drop in worship attendance and it was significant among the millennials. It seemed that there were those that grew up coming to church at a very young age but when they reached the age where they have to be by themselves far from their biological family, they start to disengage from Christian community. It seemed that when encouragement and accountability were done while the young ones are still in a family setting then as soon as they move out from this environment, tendency is to neglect participating in church or practice their faith. Practicing one’s faith was never intended to be done in isolation from other believers. God uses your biological family to help you form your faith and the body of Christ or church is there to help you be nurtured in your faith. This was what the Apostle Paul was urging the believers to do in Thessalonica. They were to live out their faith engaging other believers in their walk with God. Together as members of the body of Christ, they were to uplift one another in taking seriously the word of God and to provide warning to those that seemed to be slacking in their commitment to His word. The church also becomes a place where the opportunity to demonstrate uprightness and taking a stand because of one’s faithfulness to God could provide an example to those that seemed to be wavering to their commitment to God’s truth. Of course, comforting the hurting and cheering the weary are obviously needed. In this way, you allow others to lean on you during those times of difficulties. The brief moment of time you could spend with someone for the purpose of encouraging others could go a long way. So when you come to meet up with other believers think of ways on how you can give up of yourself so you could stimulate others to growing in their faith. “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Blessings,
