“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
John Chrysostom, one of the early fathers in church history, made this observation in a sermon on Hebrews 3: “Do you see how everywhere Paul puts the health of the community into the hands of each individual?” How relevant this is, though it was written some 1,600 years ago! According to Paul, we all have a part to play in the nurturing and growing of the spiritual lives of those who are following Christ alongside of us.
We are called to “serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13), “be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50), “live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16), “submit to one another” (Ephesians 5:21), “be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2), “forgive… one another” (Colossians 3:13), “teach and admonish one another” (Colossians 3:16), and “confess your sins to each other” (James 5:16). In short, we are to love one another, a command you’ll find again and again throughout the entire Bible.
We live together in this way because we live together in Christ. All is upheld by grace.
We are called to “serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13), “be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50), “live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16), “submit to one another” (Ephesians 5:21), “be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2), “forgive… one another” (Colossians 3:13), “teach and admonish one another” (Colossians 3:16), and “confess your sins to each other” (James 5:16). In short, we are to love one another, a command you’ll find again and again throughout the entire Bible.
We live together in this way because we live together in Christ. All is upheld by grace.
Scripture Focus
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
Insight
“Each should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)
Bible In A Year
- 2 Kings 15-16
- Proverbs 18
- 1 John 1-2
