Encouragement

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.(ESV)

Sunday’s sermon was a tough one; it was one of a call to repentance. I knew I was to preach it, and I knew it would bring with it spiritual warfare. Monday was the low, after the high of Sunday. I can’t begin to explain here what my life is like now; I honestly do not think the details matter, but God can show you generalities that you can relate and deal with in situations that you currently face too. We are all called to a daily repentance; we all fail daily and have that need to go before our Lord and ask for forgiveness. I felt that weight heavily yesterday. I thank God for those deep convictions of sin, but they hurt deeply also. I have to ask myself just as Paul did in Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. (ESV) But you must continue reading, and understanding as Paul, that you will never be perfect; you will fail daily, and therefore require daily repentance due to sin. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)

Paul writes of the encouraging words that we can lean on in times of trouble above. The promise of eternal paradise with our Savior above. When we get entrenched in the woes of our sin state that binds us, we are of little use to the kingdom. We become so down and worried about ourselves we may miss the blessing from God, or the way he wants to use us for the day. We should focus our minds on heavenly things, living with a repentant heart that casts our sins at the foot of the cross. Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Personally, my plea is for you to encourage your pastors and ministers in your life. This has been a tough lesson to learn for me; it is a very lonely place to be. Those that lead you at church every week need your encouragement. They may be your pastor, your youth leader, your worship leader, anyone involved in ministry is in battle for their servant hearts on the weekend. They need your encouragement; you would be amazed at how far a little will go. Paul knew these battles that the early churches faced; that was why he returned to them, sent letters to them, and constantly sought to encourage them with those he sent to them. Pray for those that serve the Lord by serving you; encourage them in some way, for I promise you they need it.