TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 18:5
Read: Acts 18:5
Listen: Acts 18
TODAY’S MESSAGE
The Thessalonian believers smuggle Paul out of an explosive situation by night (Acts 17). The Jesus-community there had just begun, and he’s concerned about them. When the instigators followed Paul to Berea, he knows they are serious about eradicating the Jesus-movement. There are a million ways things could be going back in Thessalonica, but Paul is stuck in Corinth with no way to find out. The Jesus-movement is fledgling, and Paul doesn’t know whether his work will last or not.
Then Timothy arrives in Corinth with news. Paul describes the event, “But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love…in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith” (1 Thessalonians 2:6-7). Paul receives encouraging news and it seems to make a big difference. It re-courages him in his work.
There are times when we may wonder whether what we are doing is worth it. There are days when we doubt that all the prayers, meals and support we give our teenager makes a difference. There are seasons when it seems like no one even notices the effort we put into the sales presentations and client meetings. There are moments when we question whether all the coffee conversations about Jesus with our friend is adding up to anything. It is in these critical occasions when we need the gift of encouragement. We need to be told that our faithfulness matters. We need to be re-couraged.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Consider who you need to encourage. Write two to five names in your journal. Take the time to re-courage them today. Send them a text telling them how much you appreciate them. Give them specifics. Go old-school to write a note of encouragement and drop it in the mail. Let someone know you see her or him and are grateful for them. Tell them their faithfulness is making a difference.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
