Tom writes:

Again we see Paul talking about the return of Jesus and saying “therefore encourage one another”. And, if we are honest, we probably want to ask “encourage one another to do what?!” Most answers in evangelicalism have been around encouraging each other to attend church, or to do our quiet times, or to do some evangelism. Paul rarely says such things. Instead his encouragement is much more relational. Or we could say he is much more specific in his call; don’t just attend church, respect your leaders and honour them. Don’t just show up for services but warn the idle, encourage the timid and help the weak. These calls usher us past activity to attentiveness; we look for how to honour a leader, we try to spot someone in our community who is fearful or weak, we wrestle with how we can helpfully warn the idle. And these things are all worth doing because the King is coming. The King who helped the weak will come and celebrate those who have emulated him. The King who warned the idle will come and congratulate those who emulate him. The King who appointed the elders will be grateful for your desire to honour his choice. And so we are encouraged by his coming. His coming makes small choices especially significant.

So let me ask you a question today; lovely person who is reading this passage; are you encouraged today? Discouragement is a toxic trick of the enemy. Are you falling under the spell of his strategies? I’ve fallen into discouragement so many times. I can flop down crestfallen in so many ways that I can’t quite explain. If you are, I say to you be encouraged. Think about Him. Our Coming King. He won’t come to chide or to condemn. He is the God of peace. He is faithful to his word and he never flakes out on his flock. He will return suddenly and gloriously, wrapping you up into his majestic beauty and delight. So I pray that this God - our God - will grab hold of your whole spirit, soul and body right now - and he will encourage you and keep you pure and persevering in joy. I pray the grace of God to be upon you today.

Question for reflection

Are you encouraged?

1 Thessalonians 5 - Tuesday 30th July