1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. 3 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: You're listening to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stangey, 4 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: and today's devotion is inspired by First Thessalonians, Chapter five, 5 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: verse eleven, which says, therefore, encourage one another and build 6 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: one another up, just as you are doing. Depending on 7 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: the nature of your present circumstances. It can be easy 8 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: at times to become inwardly focused. Sometimes it seems like 9 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 1: the primary thing we find ourselves thinking about is what 10 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: we can do to bring some level of benefit to 11 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: our own lives. But through faith in Jesus Christ, we're 12 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: encouraged to develop an outward focus. We're invited to begin 13 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: prioritizing the needs of others. We're taught to make decisions 14 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: and foster activity that's motivated by love for God and 15 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: love for His people, actions that are inspired by the 16 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: desire to build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. 17 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: This requires us to notice what matters to them, to 18 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: notice what they need. To seek insight from God so 19 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: we can utilize his wisdom to provide the kind of 20 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: encouragement and edification. Another brother or sister is seeking in 21 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: a particular moment. It's easy to tear someone down. Anyone 22 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: can do that. It takes no special skill, and it 23 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: doesn't require very much thought. But Christ's family has been 24 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: called by him to encourage and build one another up, 25 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: and to make this a continual practice for each day 26 00:01:54,920 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: of our earthly lives. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you 27 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: for your word, and we thank you for the privilege 28 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: that it is to be able to read it together today. 29 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: And Lord, as we think about the things that you 30 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: reference in this portion of scripture, we're reminded of the 31 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: fact that you've called us to encourage one another and 32 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,399 Speaker 1: to build each other up, and to make a pattern 33 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: and to make a practice out of doing that very thing. Father, 34 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: we know how easy it is to tear others down, 35 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: and it seems like there are some people that that's 36 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: all they ever do. Maybe they're just extremely insecure about 37 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: themselves and they think that the only way they'll feel 38 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: better about themselves is if they can make other people 39 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: feel worse about themselves. But Lord, we know that that's 40 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: not your calling on our lives. You haven't called us 41 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: to beat each other up. You haven't called us to 42 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: discourage one another. You've specifically encouraged us to build one 43 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: another up, to encourage one another because we are brothers 44 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: and sisters in your son, Jesus Christ, where united to 45 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 1: your son, and we're united to one another, and so 46 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: we should make healthy investments in each other's well being. Lord, 47 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: we're grateful that you've gifted us so that we're able 48 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: to do this, and we're able to do this well 49 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: because of the indwelling presence of your Holy Spirit. So Fathers, 50 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: we use the gifts that you've given to us, and 51 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: as we carve out time and make intentional effort to 52 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: build our brothers and sisters in Christ up in faith, 53 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: we pray that your name would be honored, that you 54 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: would be glorified, and that your church would be strengthened 55 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: as you use us to be a blessing to one another. 56 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: Thank you, Lord for the people that you've brought into 57 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: our lives who do this for us, and we pray 58 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: that we would reciprocate that blessing right now as we 59 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: make investments in our family, and we make investments in 60 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: our friends, and we make investments in those that you've 61 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: surrounded us with in the present it's a privilege to 62 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: do so, Lord, and we're grateful that we can utilize 63 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: your power as we seek to edify your children. Thank you, Lord, 64 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: for all of these things and for every blessing that 65 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: you give to us. And we pray this all in 66 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: Jesus name. Amen.