Therefore, comfort one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, LSB
Paul is reminding us of the importance of Christ’s call to love one another, just as He loved us. Christ came for one mission, “To build His Church.” In doing so, He would provide the one vehicle on earth to proclaim Him and the only place for salvation through Christ and Christ alone. We are His Church, and our bodies are the temples that are carried out into the world. There will be struggles and we will be rejected, but our Lord desires us to carry on. Paul knew suffering. He also knew the hearts of those wishing to bring suffering. We are meant to be encouragers to one another as we go out into the world. Sadly, many are asleep and drunk in the dreams of security in the things of this world and a faith that they have created. We are called to challenge the lies of the deceiver and stand up for the Gospel of our Lord proclaiming the hope and promise of our Lord to all who would hear. Like Paul would sing and speak about the faith while imprisoned bringing hope to others who were imprisoned with Him and those who were in charge of guarding the cells, we are called to be messengers of the Lord wherever we find ourselves building up each other and standing fast in the faith. In this, we may find our peace.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.