Keep Climbing

Keep Climbing!

Challenges in life are not easy to master. There is usually something about it that will give us pause for “second thoughts.” It may appear easier to succumb to failure than to give it a “big push.” When we have a buddy “watching our back,” we can hear the words of encouragement and muster the energy and strength to get back on track. Sometimes we may have no one else there except Jesus. Pray to the Lord. You will receive your reply. It may not be what you anticipated, but that will be OK. It is worth the realization to be able to say, “Jesus has my back (and there is no turning back)!”

No Turning Back
Brandon Heath

I have decided.
I called out His name.
I’m following Jesus now and
He knows the way.

Keep Climbing
Keep Climbing

Richard needed a push, and he got one. He was rock climbing with his friend Kevin who was the belayer (the one who secures the rope). Exhausted and ready to quit, Richard asked Kevin to lower him to the ground. But Kevin urged him on, saying he had come too far to quit. Dangling in midair, Richard decided to keep trying. Amazingly, he was able to reconnect with the rock and complete the climb because of his friend’s encouragement.

Prayer for Strength: “May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire! As Thou hast died for me, Oh may my love to Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!” – Martin Luther.

In the early church, followers of Jesus encouraged one another to continue to follow their Lord and to show compassion. In a culture riddled with immorality, they passionately appealed to one another to live pure lives. Rom. 12:1; 1 Thess. 4:1. Believers encouraged one another daily, as God prompted them to do so. Acts 13:15. They urged each other to intercede for the body (Rom. 15:30), to help people stay connected to the church (Heb. 10:25), and to love more and more. 1 Thess. 4:10.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has connected us to one another. Therefore, we have the responsibility and privilege with God’s enablement to encourage fellow believers to finish the climb of trusting and obeying Him. – Marvin Williams. Daily Bread.

When was the last time you needed to urge someone to keep following Jesus? Who has encouraged you or stirred you to pursue holiness, to keep praying, or to enlarge your love for Jesus and others?

Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Paul commended the Thessalonian Christians for being “a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” 1 Thess. 1:7. In today’s reading, Paul urges them to continue to live lives that “Please God.” 1 Thess. 4:1. As believers, our desire should be to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.” Col. 1:10.