emphasis on comfort. He made sure that they comforted one another and he
praised them for doing so. As Paul was in the process of closing this
epistle he said "Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just
as you also are doing" (I Thessalonians 5:11).
It should be our goal to bring comfort to our brothers and sisters in
Christ. Paul, in this epistle, mentioned that we can accomplish this by
remaining faithful to the Lord. He wrote "therefore, brethren, in all our
affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. For
now we live, if you standfast in the Lord" (I Thessalonians 3:7, 8). Paul
was continually persecuted but still found great comfort because the
Thessalonians remained faithful. Our world wants us to believe that we
should never concern ourselves with what others are doing, we should "mind
our own business." However, this is simply not possible.
As men and women who care for others it is natural that we be deeply
concerned when a friend or family member lives a life contrary to what God
wants. When we see someone we love living a life that leads to eternal
torment we should be concerned. Likewise, when we see loved ones who lead
faithful lives and lives that lead to eternal reward it should bring us
great comfort. Our actions should never be harmful to a brother in Christ's
faith. We should strive to bring comfort to our fellow Christians and we can
do this by remaining faithful to the Lord. Let us all consider this as we
live our lives. Our actions will affect others. The question is will it hurt
them or bring comfort to them?
-- Garrett Bookout
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