COMFORT ONE ANOTHER

The concept of "one another" in Scripture is based on the understanding that God has structured the church as an interconnected and mutually dependent body (Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:25). Accordingly, each believer is entrusted with the responsibility to observe key directives, including "Love one another," "Consider and encourage one another," "Be devoted and honor one another," and "Greet one another."

This month's blog post delves into another important responsibility: providing comfort to members of the body of Christ who are grieving the loss of a fellow believer, as referenced in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

Many members of the Thessalonian church experienced profound grief due to the loss of friends, family, and fellow church members. They found it very difficult to comprehend and process their deaths.  As a result, some individuals became hopeless and despondent like a rudderless ship tossed about by strong winds and massive waves.

The Apostle Paul explained the reason for their hopelessness and despondency.  They lacked the necessary Biblical information to guide their thinking—they were uninformed (v. 13).  In their day, God was still in the process of revealing His complete written revelation to man, the Bible.

Today, the church of Jesus Christ has God’s complete revelation—All the information needed to comfort one another. 

Even though we have the complete Word of God, every one of us struggles at times to make sense of difficult life circumstances and events.  Sometimes we do not know what to think or how to think. Disillusionment can result in bitterness, anger, or walking away from God.  We need the guidance and comfort in the midst of our sorrow and confusion.

Comfort comes through God’s powerful Word—“Comfort one another with these words” (v. 18).  The Scriptures provide strength and both peace and clarity of mind to overcome sorrow.  While words such as “Everything will be okay” or “Time heals all wounds” contain elements of Biblical truths, they do not bring true, immediate, and lasting comfort. 

The Apostle Paul has left us an example of how to connect specific, pertinent Biblical truths to life events, imparting hope to those who sorrow (vv. 14-17). It is rooted in one’s faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ—His death for our sins, burial, and resurrection.

Physical death is often described as "sleep," indicating that an individual's spirit has left the body, which then remains at rest in the ground. The spirit itself does not perish; rather, it continues to live and is in the presence of Jesus.

One day, Jesus and His saints will return to the earth in the air.  It will be announced by a trumpet blast and an angelic announcement.  The dead bodies of the saints will be awakened from the ground in resurrection.  Their spirits will be rejoined to their bodies.  Living saints on the earth will meet the Lord in the air and receive their glorified bodies.  The whole church, the body of Christ, will be united and proceed to heaven and be with its Savior forever.

What Hope!

The church is interconnected and interdependent in sorrow, when one sorrows all sorrow, when one struggles all others come alongside imparting God’s truth and comfort.  May we increase and abound in comforting one another.