ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 (ESV)
Towards the end of 2024, many of my family, friends and coworkers found themselves dealing with some extremely heavy and difficult issues. They have dealt with losing loved ones, unknown diseases, and very difficult diagnoses which are all effects of the fallen world we live in. I know that some of you who read this may also be dealing with weighty issues that I never could imagine. I don’t want to address these in a light-hearted or simplistic way. But as believers on this side of glory, how should we encourage one another in dealing with these issues?
As we dive into the year 2025, my thoughts have gone to verses that we as believers can turn to in order to be reminded of and strengthened by God’s promises when we need it most. I believe that this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5 is one of those rock-solid passages we can turn to in our most difficult times, even when we do not understand all that God is doing.
Not only is it good to remember the deeds of how God has displayed His mighty works in the past (Ps. 77:11-12), it is often important to be reminded of what God has promised to do and is currently doing in our lives, whether we are celebrating joyful birthdays or processing difficult biopsies in 2025.
Our holy and righteous God has destined us to fully obtain salvation through the willing sacrifice of Jesus. We are no longer destined to experience the just wrath of God, but we now have the full salvation through Jesus. This eternal salvation is the greatest gift and act of love that anyone could ever hope for. Paul encourages the church of Thessalonica to be reminded of that all important fact, and we as Christians today can encourage and build up our fellow believers with that same promise as we get ever closer to Jesus’ coming again (Rom. 13:11).
In 2001, song writers Keith Getty and Stuart Townend cowrote the song “In Christ Alone”. The second stanza of this modern hymn captures this encouraging promise so well!
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid--
Here in the death of Christ I live.
No matter what 2025 brings, may we be enormously encouraged that the entire wrath of God toward our sin was completely and fully satisfied (Rom. 5:9) through Jesus alone! Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we can live in that restored relationship with God and have an amazing and joyful eternity with Him (Ps. 16:11, John 15:11). So let us live with hope, even in the midst of a fallen and dying world. We can face this coming year with this solid promise that as Bible commentator Matthew Henry described, “Christ died for us, that, living and dying, we might be his; that we might live to him while we are here, and live with him when we go hence.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 (ESV)
Towards the end of 2024, many of my family, friends and coworkers found themselves dealing with some extremely heavy and difficult issues. They have dealt with losing loved ones, unknown diseases, and very difficult diagnoses which are all effects of the fallen world we live in. I know that some of you who read this may also be dealing with weighty issues that I never could imagine. I don’t want to address these in a light-hearted or simplistic way. But as believers on this side of glory, how should we encourage one another in dealing with these issues?
As we dive into the year 2025, my thoughts have gone to verses that we as believers can turn to in order to be reminded of and strengthened by God’s promises when we need it most. I believe that this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5 is one of those rock-solid passages we can turn to in our most difficult times, even when we do not understand all that God is doing.
Not only is it good to remember the deeds of how God has displayed His mighty works in the past (Ps. 77:11-12), it is often important to be reminded of what God has promised to do and is currently doing in our lives, whether we are celebrating joyful birthdays or processing difficult biopsies in 2025.
Our holy and righteous God has destined us to fully obtain salvation through the willing sacrifice of Jesus. We are no longer destined to experience the just wrath of God, but we now have the full salvation through Jesus. This eternal salvation is the greatest gift and act of love that anyone could ever hope for. Paul encourages the church of Thessalonica to be reminded of that all important fact, and we as Christians today can encourage and build up our fellow believers with that same promise as we get ever closer to Jesus’ coming again (Rom. 13:11).
In 2001, song writers Keith Getty and Stuart Townend cowrote the song “In Christ Alone”. The second stanza of this modern hymn captures this encouraging promise so well!
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid--
Here in the death of Christ I live.
No matter what 2025 brings, may we be enormously encouraged that the entire wrath of God toward our sin was completely and fully satisfied (Rom. 5:9) through Jesus alone! Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we can live in that restored relationship with God and have an amazing and joyful eternity with Him (Ps. 16:11, John 15:11). So let us live with hope, even in the midst of a fallen and dying world. We can face this coming year with this solid promise that as Bible commentator Matthew Henry described, “Christ died for us, that, living and dying, we might be his; that we might live to him while we are here, and live with him when we go hence.”
by Eric Adams
Posted in Faith Blogs
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