Footsteps to Zion

The fear of the dark is one of the common fears faced by children. However, this fear of darkness is in adults too – but it’s just a different kind of darkness. Darkness for adults may represent failures, doubts, and worries for their future. Today, this darkness is so apparent all over the world - financial instability, sicknesses with no cures, rising terrorism, and earthquakes to name a few. It’s causing great fear among families, leaders, companies, and countries. So as Christians, how then do we bring light to this increasingly dark world filled with fear? The antidote to fear is courage . First Thessalonians 5:14 tells us, “ And we urge you brethren… encourage the fainthearted… ” To encourage is to literally “ add courage .” It means to give support, confidence, or hope to someone. One way to encourage is through the words we speak because our words can have powerful effects.  What we say counts. Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the ...

“Now we exhort you, brethren…” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) In the dictionary, the word “exhort” is simply defined as “to encourage.” It originated from the Latin words: “ ex ” (thoroughly) and “ hortari ” (urge). We often see this word in the gospels when the author is trying to warn and strengthen his fellow believers in Christ. Those who exhort the brethren are the ones who can uphold the weak in the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul was one such exhorter. He lived up to being his “ brother’s keeper ” for the church in Thessalonica. Apostle Paul preached in the city of Thessalonica for three Sabbaths but soon after, they experienced great persecution, forcing Apostle Paul to leave. This left the Thessalonians who just received Christ barely knowing the gospel. Thus, Apostle Paul wrote this Book of Thessalonians to encourage them in their faith and to teach them more about God. Whether we are just starting to walk with God like the Thessalonians or we have already known God for ...