Share This Episode
Our Daily Bread Ministries Various Hosts Logo

Encouragement in Christ

Our Daily Bread Ministries / Various Hosts
The Truth Network Radio
December 15, 2024 7:00 pm

Encouragement in Christ

Our Daily Bread Ministries / Various Hosts

On-Demand Podcasts NEW!

This broadcaster has 1674 podcast archives available on-demand.

Broadcaster's Links

Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.


December 15, 2024 7:00 pm

An Indiana school teacher suggested her students write notes of encouragement and inspiration for their peers in “random acts of kindness.” Days later, when a school tragedy occurred in a different part of the country, their plans took on even more meaning; their notes became a means of buoying the spirits of their fellow students as they dealt with the resulting fear and pain that something could happen to them too. Many of the 5,100 students so cherished the note that they’ve left it taped to their locker as a reminder of the kindness shown.

Encouragement and mutual concern were on Paul’s mind too when he wrote the people at Thessalonica. They had lost friends and Paul instructed them to hope in Jesus’s eventual return to bring their loved ones to life again (1 Thessalonians 4:14). While they didn’t know when that would occur, he reminded them that as believers they needn’t wait in fear of God’s judgment when He returned (5:9). Instead, he suggested they wait with confidence in their future life with Him. And in the meantime, they could “encourage one another and build each other up” (v. 11).

When we experience painful losses or senseless tragedies, it’s easy to be overcome with fear and sadness. Yet Paul’s words are helpful to us today, just as they were two thousand years ago. Let’s wait in hopeful expectation that Jesus will restore all things. And in the meantime, let’s encourage each other—with written notes, spoken words, acts of service, or a simple hug.

COVERED TOPICS / TAGS (Click to Search)
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Welcome to this daily encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Kirsten Holmberg and I call today's devotion, Encouragement in Christ. An Indianist school teacher suggested that her students write notes of encouragement and inspiration for their peers. Days later, when a school tragedy occurred in a different part of the country, their notes buoyed the spirits of their fellow students as they dealt with the resulting fear and pain that something could happen to them too. Encouragement and mutual concern were also on Paul's mind when he wrote to the believers at Thessalonica. They had lost friends and Paul instructed them to hope in Jesus' promised return to bring their loved ones to life again. While they didn't know when that would occur, he reminded them that as believers they needn't wait in fear of God's judgment when he returned.

Instead, they could wait in confidence in their future life with him and meanwhile encourage one another and build each other up. When we experience painful losses or senseless tragedies, it's easy to be overcome with fear and sadness. Yet Paul's words are helpful to us today, just as when they were written. Let's wait in hopeful expectation that Christ will restore all things. And meanwhile, we can encourage each other with written notes, spoken words, acts of service, or a simple hug.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses 4 through 11. But let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night.

And those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Let's pray. Risen Jesus, despite our hurts in this broken world, please help us to wait on you with hope and faith and to encourage those around us until you come again. We thank you for that in your name. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Kirsten Holmberg, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2024-12-15 20:07:12 / 2024-12-15 20:08:33 / 1

Get The Truth Mobile App and Listen to your Favorite Station Anytime