Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Now Means Now!

Dear Friend,                        

There is something our Lord wants to give to you and something he wants to receive from you that can only be given and received at this very moment – now!

There is something you may give to the next person you speak to – a word of encouragement - a word of counsel - a word of faith and something you may receive from that person that can never be given and received again.

Become aware that “now” means now!

When life is busy it’s easy to be so caught up in coping that it is easy to lose sight of what our Lord and the people in your life have to offer you now – and you to offer them!

Think about Jesus and the woman at the well.  Jesus was tired, perhaps not in the mood to talk with her or with Nicodemus who also interrupts him.  Yet, life changing words were spoken because Jesus was alert to them in the now of the moment.

When you receive a “nudge” from the Spirit of God to call this person or affirm that person, to offer something to someone or follow through with a person, then be alert to the moment, the “now,” and do it!

Be alert for ways to encourage others in your every "now." Indeed, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Joy to you - Stan

© Copyright 2021 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

1. Think about the people you will interact with today - how may you encourage each one - with some simple word or perhaps by something you do?
2. Reflect on a moment in which someone else encouraged you and then ask how you may pay that encouragement forward - and encourage others.

Photo by Adrià Crehuet Cano on Unsplash