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| Essential 100 -- encourage! | | Date Created: May 13, 2005, 07:16 AM |
90 — Friday May 13 — 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11
The section separates neatly into two sections at the chapter break. And both sections are summed up with very similar words, showing that Paul must originally have been writing to folks who were discouraged by the fact that some in their congregation had died ('fallen asleep') before the Lord's return.
Here's the surprise though. Paul doesn't say 'therefore, be encouraged... buck up, stiff upper lip'. The duty is not on each individual to cheer themselves up. The duty is placed on us to encourage each other. Both of the two sections end with the injunction 'Therefore, encourage one another!'
I'm wondering if that should be more the role of my blog -- 'encourage one another' -- rather than 'express yourself; write out your discouragements'. The two probably aren't mutually exclusive, I realize, but still, I'm thinking I should probably be more intentional, even here. |
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