Dear Church Family,
The command to love one another serves as the basis for the other 20+ “one another” verses in the New Testament. Remember the verb form in Greek calls us to obey our Lord’s commands and not simply file them away as pious suggestions. Some look like actions everyone – Christian or not - should do, while others must be termed counter-cultural. Actually even the call to love goes beyond “normal” human love as the love Jesus to which Jesus calls His people to show must be sacrificial and not self-seeking.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 calls the church to act in a supernatural way, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” The ‘therefore’ reminds us to look at the passage in its context. The two previous verses teach great truths that frame the church’s identity in Christ. God has appointed His people to salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord as we “live together with Him.” Since we enjoy union with Christ, we can never live separated from Christ. The passage cements the truth that God’s people have the high privilege and joy of living in communion with each other, as well.
Paul’s links two commands in this verse. Most translations read ‘encourage,’ but the root word also describes the Holy Spirit as the “Comforter.” Paul writes to a church living in a pagan society and in uncertain times. So the way Christians can comfort one another lies in edifying others. In Ephesians 2:22 Paul pictures the church as an edifice “being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” Since His people want the church to bring glory to God we strive to do all we can to make sure every part of the building (the church) reflects the perfection of God.
How do we practice what Chapter 26 of the Westminster Confession calls “mutual edification”? The meaning of edification directs us to the activity of building. Building requires energy and working according to a plan. God’s plan calls us to use words spoken with “truth in love” so that “we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Eph. 4:15) The best words we can speak come from the Bible. So we can share with others words of eternal truth that the Holy Spirit inspired. Then we can bear witness to the goodness of God we have experience. I was blessed minutes ago by Irene Harwood who gave praise to God for His many blessings despite having surgery to repair her broke hip caused by a boisterous dog jumping on her. To say the least, she made my day. Perhaps words of hope you share with someone will grow them in the grace of knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Romans 14:19 Ephesians 4:12 also call us to this neglected practice of building one another up. May we joyously follow these commands to the glory of God and for blessing to His church!
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin