BREAD OF LIFE MINISTRIES

TEACHINGS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE, EDIFY & MAKE YOU THINK!!
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Thursday, June 5, 2014

COMFORT & EDIFY

“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.