Strengthen, Encourage & Comfort

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. I Corinthians 13:13-14:5

 

Faith, hope and love endure forever. These three will never die among God's people. Anything we can do to express love, offer hope and build faith in others has eternal reward for both us and those we minister to.

 

Prophecy, Paul says, is at the top of the list. When we speak into the lives of fellow believers with words to encourage, build up or console, we are sowing the love of God into their hearts that it may grow into healthy faith. You can get through this. You are not alone. With God's help, you can overcome. God has everything you need. He has a wonderful plan and you are a part of it.

 

Building up believers builds up the church. Little by little we bring the Kingdom of God into dark places one person at a time, one encounter at a time, one challenge at a time. The glacier of despair does not melt away overnight, but it will shrink as the warm waters of fellowship and brotherly love wash up against it day after day.