20 Jan February 8th Daily Devotion

 A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

ENCOURAGE AND BUILD EACH OTHER UP

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

When you were a child, there were times when you needed a boost to grab something that was beyond your reach.  Or, you came home from school with a set of math problems with no idea how to solve them.  Your mother or father sat down with you, patiently helping you discover the solution you had been unable to find.  Or, when you were frustrated because you had missed a sure goal in a soccer game and your coach put his arm around you and assured you the next time the ball would go in.  Encouragement, support, and assurance are so important to build you up and give you confidence.

From time to time, you also need encouragement, support, and assurance to give you spiritual confidence.  One such way you receive this is through confession and absolution.  In confessing your sins, you are admitting that you missed the mark, failed to do what you knew you should have done or did something that you knew was not God-pleasing.  When you confess your failure, your sin, and then hear a fellow Christian or your pastor assure you Christ died in payment for your sins, shed His blood that your heavenly Father would forgive you your sins, and announces to you God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, you become encouraged because you know before God your “slate” is wiped clean.  You can go forward with joy in your heart knowing you are His much-loved child.

Today’s devotional verse exhorts you to give encouragement and support to build up your brother or sister for their faith journey.  Think of how Jesus did that for Peter who denied Him three times.  Or, Jesus calmed the frightened hearts of the disciples during the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  Or, Jesus appeared to them in the upper room after His resurrection.

Using God’s word and your relating God’s blessings you have personally received to those around you, especially those who are struggling, you too can give encouragement and support to others.  Remember, Jesus says,  “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Prayer:  Help me daily to be conscious of those around me needing encouragement, filling me with Your love words, O Lord, through which to give them the encouragement they need.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand;

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on in the light,

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near,

When my life is almost gone,

Hear my cry, hear my call; Hold my hand lest I fall.

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

When the darkness appears And the night draws near

And the day is almost gone,

At the river I stand; Guide my feet, hold my hand,

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

(LSB 739)