"Comfort each other and edify one another."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
The apostle Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica to comfort and build up each other as members of the same body. The word comfort carries the idea of strengthening others in their faith. The word edify means to build up others in a stronger faith. In the body of Christ, we need one another. The Christian life was never intended to be lived as a "lone ranger." Strength is found through fellowship and worship with other believers.
I spoke to a group of Christian young people. I took one stick and easily broke it. Then, I took a bundle of sticks and bound them with a rubber band. They did not bend nor were they easily broken. I used that object lesson to talk about the importance of a support group in the Christian life. There is strength in numbers, when people are bonded together through faith in Christ.
Do you have a church family or another faith support group? It should be a group where you give comfort and strength to others, as well as receiving support in your time of need. Faith becomes weaker, when we try to live out our faith alone. We need one another. The body of Christ ministers to each member with comfort and strength. Never try to live the Christian life alone. We are family. Comfort each other.
God, use us to build up and comfort others.
