Comfort and build up

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5.11

Two simple little words – comfort and edify – but they are special little words among Christians.

This crisis, keeping many of us from church, has the possibility of making it all even worse as we can’t even meet to meet and build each other up.

That though can’t stop us from giving each other comfort and from each of us building each other up. It can be harder than it sounds. Times like this cause stress and stress on our spirits and our tempers and when that happens conflict and tearing down can be the result.

We though, controlled by the Spirit, need to avoid that pitfall. When we get to feeling that way we need to focus on comfort and edifying each other. That’s hard sometimes – because our flesh gets in the way because we want to focus on us.

Personal differences and priorities can get in the way. We can sometimes allow those things to divide us, but we can’t afford to do that.

We must be known as comforters and edifiers. True love never allows for tearing down and division.

It seems like Paul talks a lot about these things. It’s possible to focus and being though and being harsh. Far too often I have seen that amongst Christians and even in my when I was younger. Hopefully the Lord has moved me on from that.

Sure, we need to stand for righteousness and holiness. We can’t compromise on truth. But even there we must remember to build up. “Ripping into’ somebody is not going to do us any good. We loving correct without pride and arrogance, then we comfort with God’s word and build up.