ENCOURAGE AND BUILD UP; DON’T DISCOURAGE AND TEAR DOWN

ENCOURAGE & BUILD UP, DON’T’ DISCOURAGE AND TEAR DOWN

 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. —I Thessalonians 5:11

            It is so encouraging to see a new building- a house or some other building- being built.  Each week as you drive by the progress can be seen.  First you see the site work.  Then the foundation goes in and is capped.  Then the framing of the building causes it to take shape.  The sheathing encloses it, the roof goes on, the windows are installed and it is sided.  The well and septic are installed, the driveway graded and finished and lawn planted.  All this is going on as the house is being finished on the inside where it cannot be seen by just driving by.  But it is encouraging to see a house being “built” up.

            On the other hand it is sad to see buildings- houses or barns or other buildings-  unused and deteriorating.  There are shingles missing, the roof starts to rot and fall in, the siding falls off and the place is all overgrown.  Paint is peeling, windows are broken…  It is sad and discouraging to see a building like that— unattended, devalued… abandon.

            But as followers of Jesus we are to build each other up.  Our service to our Lord and to each other is to encourage this building up of each other or equipping of each other (Ephesians 4:11-16; II Timothy 3:16-17).  We are to be growing together.  It is interesting how the builder builds with materials and the materials submit to the builder and progress in the building being built is made.  Can you imagine if the materials did not submit to the builder?  The plywood puts itself where it wants to— tacked to a tree or over a window, the plumbing places itself outside the foundation running along the ground unprotected…  That would be a strange site as you drive by each day.

            There cannot be encouragement; there cannot be a building up unless the body is working together— each doing its part.  So I ask you, as I ask myself, are you serving to encourage others and build others up… like the house being built up?  Or are you discouraging and tearing others down… like the house that is deteriorating?  The Thessalonians were encouraging each other and building each other up even though they were going through persecution at the time.  May we be encouraging each other and building each other up like they were. 

Yes, Dear Father may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus who desires this for us.  May we be obedient to You out of our love for You.  Yes, may it be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF8qxPWVQv8