Editor’s Note: I once again welcome Molly Stouffer as guest blogger. Molly is from Hagerstown, MD, studying Pastoral Ministries at Lancaster Bible College.
What does your church community do? Are they doing what they should be doing? In this week’s final post on 1st Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Paul emphasizes something important any church community should be doing.
To finish his thoughts on brotherly love, Paul gives the church a solemn promise in 1st Thessalonians 5:27. This verse emphasizes the significance of sharing this letter with others. This letter could not be overlooked because it’s contents are essential for them.
Paul, in his wisdom, puts them under oath. This is a solemn promise, which means they better follow through it. Why? Because it is a promise before the Lord. This means God will be watching them to ensure they are held accountable.
Wow, that’s a heavy burden. Why?
Because Paul wants them to really understand how important what he shared is; this can’t be taken lightly. It is so important that the command is to not only read this letter, but to share it. This letter and its contents are not for themselves only, it is for all the brothers and sisters.
So what does that show us? It reveals we need to read and learn in community, a community who loves and builds each other up. Paul one last time is emphasizing community, and what it should be doing.
So I want to ask you, what should we, the church, be doing as a community? We need to be loving one another, building each other up in the Spirit. We need to share the gospel with the lost, and provide for the weak in what they need. In all we do as a community, we need to love each other and build each other up. As we go from here, take this with you, don’t forget it. Brothers and sisters, love each other, build each other up.
Engaging Scripture 