1 Thessalonians 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 3:2,3 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.
Paul tells the Thessalonians in his letter to them that they are to love and encourage one another. He acknowledges that they are doing this already, but says that they need to do it more and more. Paul sent Timothy to encourage the Thessalonians in their trials, just as we are to encourage other believers in their difficult times. Paul did not send Timothy to judge them for not doing better, just as we should not judge the attempts of others. There is an urgency to start loving each other and encouraging each other, instead of tearing each other down. We need to embrace our differences and learn from those differences, instead of looking down on others who aren’t like us. When we judge and refuse to love those who are different, we become no better than bullies. Look around you and open your heart to those who need to be loved and encouraged. Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life for us. Can we love those around us with that same kind of love?
Patti Burris 
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