Daily devotional · October 30
Everyday Faith
“And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Paul closes this letter with quick, practical lines: encourage the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone, do not repay evil for evil, rejoice, pray, give thanks. It reads like a description of a healthy community. Notice that he treats people differently according to need: some need a warning, others need comfort, others need patience. Love is attentive. Then come three short commands that can shape a whole day: be joyful, keep praying, give thanks in every circumstance. Giving thanks in every circumstance does not mean being thankful for pain; it means finding something to thank God for within it. Today, pick one person to encourage and one thing to thank God for that you usually overlook. Say both out loud or write them down.
Prayer
Father, help me encourage others and give thanks to You in all things. Amen.