I Thess 5: 12-28 "Pray and encourage"

READ: I Thessalonians 5:12-28.

Verses chosen for meditation: I Thessalonians 5: 14, 16-18.

¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

 

REFLECT

First responders show dedication and courage daily by being on the front lines when any disaster occurs. In the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York City in 2001 when thousands of people were killed or injured, more than four hundred emergency workers also lost their lives. In honour of first responders, the US Senate designated September 12 as the “National Day of Encouragement.”

While it may seem unique that a government would declare a National Day of Encouragement, the Apostle Paul certainly thought this was needed for the growth of a church. He commended the young church in Thessalonica, a city in Macedonia, to “encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (v.14). Besides that, Paul continued to exhort many of the young believers to not return to their old ways of sexual immorality, but to aspire to good works and to love their brethren.

Also notice how the apostle Paul underlines this: “this is the will of God… for you” in the midst of the troubling situation in Thessalonica.  Perhaps, one may ask, “is this the will of God and something to thank God for?” “Isn’t the will of God supposed to be perfect and positive to display some power or gift that is going to attract attention?

What do we reconcile this with encouragement that Paul has exhorted?

 

RELATE

It is a lesson to learn how to submit to the “will of God” with our quiet response. Although the young believers in Thessalonica were going through persecution, Paul encouraged them to “always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else” (v.15). He knew that as humans, they would be prone to despair, selfishness, and conflict. But he also knew they would not be able to uplift one another without God’s help and strength.

Things are no different today. The pressures under which we live today often fill our lives with despair and gloom. If not careful, these things will get us down. We all need to be uplifted, and we need to do the same for those around us. Yet we can’t do it in our own strength. That’s why Paul’s encouragement that “the one who calls you (Jesus) is faithful, and he will do it”, is so reassuring (v.24). With His help, we can encourage one another every day.   

In these times and seasons of uncertainties. I can appreciate the comforting words from Paul that we are not in darkness because we are children of the light (vv. 4-5). Therefore, encourage one another with good cheer. Friends, the Lord did not promise a trouble-free Christian life. Our Lord is behind the “will of God”. He is sovereign and is above our thoughts and all plans. With that, I have learned to embrace the “will of God”, by having the assurance that the Lord is faithful in the midst of troubling times, “He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.” (v. 24).

Through praying always (v.17), I often discover that God had quiet ways of answering that taught me that He is El Shaddai, the God who is enough, the God who can meet my needs. No wonder the Apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to give their all for God (vv. 14-22). They were to exhort, warn, comfort, rejoice, pray, and express their gratitude to God, among other things. Therefore, when you are under pressure and in trouble, firstly go to the Lord in prayers. Lean on that inner strength that God provides so that we can be encouraged. So friends, take heed to encourage the fainthearted and weak among you.

 

REST

Dear Lord, You understand that it is not easy to rejoice and give thanks in difficult times. Lord, I come to you with my quiet response. Teach me to rejoice always, be prayerful, and be thankful. Allow me to be an encourager to others in their midst of their struggles. In His Name, I pray, Amen.

 

Vincent