DEVOTION - Day 25

1 Thessalonians 3:7 (New International Version)
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

With less than a week left in the 31 Day Devotional challenge, I want to encourage you that we are very close to completing our fifth book of the Bible! This is no small feat and is a very extraordinary thing for us to be able to say that we’ve done! Just imagine what you could do if you kept this up for the rest of the year…you just might complete the entire Bible!! That is my challenge to you…

But, today we focus on this Scripture which speaks so clearly to one of the benefits of surrounding yourself with Godly people. Too many people only see those that they go to church with on Sunday morning. Then, the rest of the week, they’re at work where they are surrounded by people and environments that are less than Christian. Now, don’t get me wrong, we all need to be out in the world ministering to those around us, but I think the verse today gives us insight as to why it’s also important to have Christian friends around us.

Have you ever been to a point where you were ready to give up? I mean, this Christian thing, well you gave it a chance, and it’s just too hard? Maybe you feel like Paul here – you’re distressed and persecuted and you’re to a point where you almost can’t go on another day?

If that’s you, Paul gives us the direction here that, by having brothers and sisters in Christ around you, you are able to tap into their faith and their stories of faith. In other words, when you are weak, you can be strengthened by the acts of faith of those around you.

Here’s what I mean. Have you ever heard a story where a Christian has overcome some obstacle in their life that you walk away from it thinking “man, if they can do THAT, then I can do THIS”? Their tremendous story of hope, or restoration, or God’s triumphant blessing in their life gives you such encouragement to deal with whatever you’re going through. That’s what I’m talking about here.

For me, I find encouragement in others often. In the life of ministry, there are often moments where I feel as though the mountain is too high or the waters are too deep and I just can’t do it. There are times where the idea is just too big or there just aren’t enough people or resources to carry it out. Or, there just isn’t enough time in my week or days in my month to get things done and I’m not sure that I can continue to juggle everything effectively. Then, I see someone like Pastor Todd who has his hands full with a LARGE family in addition to making a transition into a new position in a new city, and I think to myself “man, if he can do THAT, then I can do THIS!”

So, today, pray that God will give you strength to continue on another day. Ask Him to place others in your life that you can be encouraged by their faith by, especially when you are distressed and persecuted. Finally, pray that your faith can be that to someone else someday.