Happy Friday Saints.
1Thessalonians 5:14 “AND WE EXHORT YOU BROTHERS AND SISTERS: WARN THOSE WHO ARE IDLE, COMFORT THE DISCOURAGED, HELP THE WEAK, BE PATIENT WITH EVERYONE.”
If we are to COMFORT THE DISCOURAGED, then we can expect that at any given time, there will be discouraged people around us.
If we are going to HELP THE WEAK, then we can expect that there will be weak people among us too.
If you are strong, it is because of the grace of God.
Your strength should be used to “COMFORT” the discouraged.
Too often, though, our strength gives us a sense of pride. And instead of COMFORTING others who need some encouragement, we look down on them because of their despair.
Instead of HELPING the weak, we make them feel terrible about being so vulnerable and for feeling weak in the first place.
Not every discouragement or feeling of weakness is caused by sin.
Sometimes, even when people are living right and doing their best to love and serve the Lord, they feel downcast, demoralised, fragile and weak.
But, as a child of God, one is never alone. We belong to the Body of Christ. A divine kingdom structure, that is designed to help us uphold and support one another through God’s love and power.
Because we are human, none of us is strong 100% of the time. We ALL need comfort and help now and then.
When the people around you are discouraged and weak (and you happen to be strong) – you have a responsibility to COMFORT and HELP them.
This is your time to turn their hearts towards the ‘God of all comfort’ and to ‘Christ who strengthens’ us.
And regardless of the spiritual state of those around you, “BE PATIENT WITH EVERYONE.” It’s always an honour to be used by God to support and strengthen others.
Have a wonderful day and a great weekend. God bless, and lots’a love,
Warren
