“For God did not appoint
us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died
for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are
doing.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)
The Thessalonican believers were both concerned with what would happen to those
Christians who died prior to Christ’s Second Coming and exactly when Jesus
would return. Paul addresses their question of the dead in Christ in
Chapter 4 verse 17. The dead in Christ shall rise first at His
coming. As far as exactly when He is coming back for His church, Paul
tells them He will come as a thief in the night. Jesus Himself spoke of
the unknown nature of His own return in the gospel of Matthew (24:36-44),
stating that only the Father knows the exact time of His return.
The Second Coming of Christ is known as The
Blessed Hope of the church. With Christ’s return in mind, Paul tells the
Thessalonicans to continue comforting and edifying one another, just as they
had been doing. To edify (*) is to build up another’s faith
through various means.
It’s important that we
practice this today as well. We see so much backbiting and divisiveness
in churches these days. This ought not to be. We are called to
encourage and build up the faith of those brothers and sisters around us so
that we will all be ready when Christ does in fact return. Let us focus
on harmony rather than discord, making every effort to be like
Christ and not succumb to our baser nature. Until next time, walk with
the King and be a blessing!
(*) To instruct especially
so as to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.
