Encourage One Another

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (NIV)

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.

Devotion:

When Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers that God has not destined His people for wrath but for salvation, he is offering more than theological clarity—he is offering comfort for weary hearts. These early Christians lived with pressure, uncertainty, and the constant temptation to lose courage. Yet Paul lifts their eyes to the steady purposes of God and calls them to strengthen one another with this truth. We are not wandering through life hoping for mercy; we are held by a God who has already secured it. And because this is true, we can encourage, build up, and walk beside one another with confidence and hope.

These verses make it clear that our redemption through the passion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus was not a last-minute solution God came up with to save humanity. Rather, it was the plan from the very creation of the world. We can be greatly comforted by this fact. We are in God’s eternal plan for humankind. Jesus secured our salvation, and we no longer fear what the future will bring. Our very identity is now secured as children of the Creator God. So we can live in the victory Jesus has won for us.

We are called to live in a hope that cannot be taken away from us. As Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.” We can rely on the fact that our forgiveness is real and our lives are hidden with God in Christ. Knowing these facts, we can be empowered to obey all that Jesus Christ commands in His gospel. The kingdom is a settled fact that we can enjoy for eternity.

These verses also stress that Christians must encourage one another. We must always share an encouraging word with our brother or sister in Christ. When life gets hard, and it seems like all hope has failed us, we must remember that we are children of the King Jesus. The Christian journey is a shared one. There is no room for lone ranger Christians. We need each other. Our worship gatherings can be true sources of mutual encouragement and of walking in Christ throughout the week.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for what you did on the cross centuries ago. The salvation you purchased there I don’t deserve. Thank you that you are a merciful and grace-filled God who always loves in ways greater than we expect or deserve. Lord, give us courage to encourage others whenever we get the chance. Help us to commit to building each other up as we seek to walk in the hope of salvation we have in you. May we be united in our witness for you and make us obedient to you. Amen.