Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Building relationships and building houses are very similar. Both structures cover and protect what is precious in life, and both depend on the integrity of their foundation to provide strength and longevity. As a child of God, you play an important part in building His Kingdom! Your relationships with other believers give structure to God’s specific work on Earth.
Edification is the process of helping another grow into spiritual maturity and Christlikeness. Sound difficult? It is! Yet it is how you are to live in relationship with other believers, “equipping the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). The relationships you are building with fellow believers are meant to guide you both to a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ resulting in something beautiful and useful to God.
Edifying others is covered in the New Testament through a series of teachings on “one another’s.” For example: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving” (Ephesians 4:32). “Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). “Bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). “Do not grumble against one another” (James 5:9).
Be encouraged as you deal with your fellow followers of Christ – God intended those relationships to bring you joy and a deeper understanding of His love. Keep seeking Godly perspectives and applying Biblical principles in your encounters and edification will take place for all of you. Pray for God’s churches across America to experience a revolution of edification in the way believers help and support each other. Ask that the world may see Christ through His followers in this nation.
Today’s Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
