Refreshment (Tom Rutter)

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Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
These words from St Paul were written after he had been flogged, thrown into prison in Macedonia and forced out of Thessalonica. At a time when Paul could have been discouraged by persecution and nursing his emotional and physical wounds, he was instead concerned for the Thessalonians! He modelled the personal and heartfelt encouragement he wanted them to offer others.
This is the principle also found in Proverbs 11:25: “…whoever refreshes others will be refreshed”.
Prayer – Dear God, please help us today to offer heartfelt encouragement to others no matter what we may be facing. Help us to trust that as we refresh others, so we will be refreshed. Amen.
Tom Rutter

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