"New Life"

Just the other day a brother from back home called me. There was a bit of small talk at first and then the conversation opened up full throttle. It was like I was there with him. Every word out of his mouth was a praise to God! We both were shouting praises to our Lord. Wow! I needed that.It gave me "new life" to know that he was standing firm in the Lord.

This conversation got me to thinking about the church at Thessalonica. The apostle Paul was stressin' out, wandering how the Thessalonians were doing in their walk with the Lord. Paul knew that the brothers and sisters there were under heavy persecution, and it was bothering him to point of wrestlessness. So he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage them. After a short mission trip, Timothy returned to Paul with great news! And we read about this in 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 "We have been greatly encouraged, dear brothers, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us "new life" to know that you are standing firm in the Lord."

Are we encouraged to hear the great news of our brothers in Chirst, who are growing in their faith? If we are not, we should be! This conversation I had the other day was a breath of fresh air, or as Paul put it "new life." I urge you to get in touch with someone that you have labored in the Lord with in the past, and just see how they are doing. You can never tell what the Lord might have in store. Either way this will be an opportunity for encouragement.

God-Speed bro,
Lyle K. Sinkey