Paul’s tone is so encouraging when he wrote to the church in Thessalonica. He wrote things like this:
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NIV)
This was a far cry from his original approach to the Church – pursuing, prosecuting, and persecuting. Perhaps it would help us, then, to look at the distance he travelled by looking at what the word “encourage” really means.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:7 NIV)
Many times, when the word παρακαλέω is used, the meaning comes across as something like “help feel better.” When we are encouraged in this way, we feel better about something as a result. For example, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about their friends and family who had passed away.
They were concerned because Jesus had not returned yet. What was going to happen to their loved ones who died before Jesus came back? They believed that Jesus is the Christ, but they aren’t here for His return. Will they still get to be in His Kingdom when he returns? How?
Paul explained that all of us will receive new bodies when Jesus returns. Even those of us who are alive will get new bodies to replace the deteriorating ones we have now. When Jesus returns, then, the dead in Christ will be raised to life again and given their new bodies.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 NIV)
Notice how he used the word encourage (παρακαλέω) here. We can feel better about our loss because we know we will see our loved ones again in the future. The end is not really the end. That helps us feel better.
How about you? Are you able to encourage people in a way that it helps them feel better? Do people feel encouraged after spending time around you?
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