Love One Another by Encouraging One Another

31 May Love One Another by Encouraging One Another

God calls us to encourage and build each other up: 

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)

As we have studied in recent articles, God profoundly loves us and calls upon us to love one another! Brothers and sisters, encouraging one another is one of the greatest ways we can show love. And we aren’t just called to encourage each other every now and again; we need to offer (and receive!) encouragement every day: 

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:12-13)

Every day we face difficulties, discouragements, and temptations that can wear us down. We need to encourage one another daily to help one another stay strong. 

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

(Hebrews 10:24-25)

God tells us never to give up on meeting together and encouraging one another. We need consistent fellowship to keep us growing.  

What are some specific ways we can encourage others? 

• We can help them to see and celebrate the ways God has blessed them and helped them to grow.
• We can share how they have helped us by their warmth and encouraging words.
• We can share how we have seen them love and encourage others.
• We can pray for them.
• We can share scriptures that encourage us.

God has graciously promised to help us all in whatever trials, challenges, and weaknesses we face, but when life gets tough, we need to remind one another of his promises and faithfulness. Let us encourage one another with stories of God’s past faithfulness to help us face our present difficulties.  And let us encourage one another with the hope of heaven, as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18:

“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.”