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Exhorting one another - Exhort means “to aid, help, comfort, encourage, and beseech.” In the world we live in with all its temptations and distractions to divert and pull us from our calling (1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ) every one of us needs exhortation to strive harder to stand firm.
The bible has a lot to say about this command. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24,25 How much of our conversations with each other engage mutual spiritual encouragement.? And to pursue holiness so others will see Christ in us and be drawn to Him. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 Strong advise here on our relationships with non-believers around us.
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 We are bound (through His death) to stir up, and to strengthen and encourage one another.
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12,13 Powerful advise on our relationships with fellow believers around us. This verse indicates that our relationships should be such that we know each other intimately. This would take a lot of dedication, and work on both parties part, considering how often the majority of us so not see each other on a daily bases.
“Hang in there!” “Hold fast!” “Have you tried praying about that?” “Have you sought the advice or counsel of this person?” “Do you think it would help for you to do this or that thing?” “I had a problem like that one time.” By doing this, we begin to share our resources and experiences, and there is wisdom, God says, in a multitude of counselors. It cannot help but build people up, and our fellowship becomes stronger as we share one another’s failures, struggles, pains, hopes, and victories. The tongue has the power of life and death. Proverbs 18:21Your words have an impact on others!
Finally, we are to encourage each other to look forward in a vertical manner to our final destination or journey’s end. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
Lest we not forget who essentially brings us to our calling. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24
Praise God. Vertical focus-not horizontal!!
