I love to interact with fellow believers. It is a wonderful thing to be able to be with others who have the Lord Jesus living in them. I especially love spending time with brothers and sisters in Christ who leave me feeling encouraged to continue fighting the good fight. When it comes to interacting with fellow believers, one of our main tasks is to edify one another, to “build up” one another. Here are a few verses that can help us know how to do just that.
Ephesians 4:15-16 “but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
This verse is talking about the body of believers. It says that the body will “edify itself in love” when it is “fitly joined together” in Christ and every part is working in its “measure”. This means that we will begin edifying one another when we focus on living for Christ and working together, each in the capacity that God has given us.
Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
If we want to build each other up, we must get together. When we do, we are to encourage one another in love. When one believer considers another, it can start a chain reaction. Soon many people are being edified by love and good works. (More on this verse here)
James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
We are all sinners. Even Christians are still living in sin-cursed bodies in a sin-cursed world. Thus, we all have faults. As believers, the wonderful thing is that we can build each other up by confessing our faults, and then giving them to God. We can share our struggles and then fight for one another with one of the most powerful weapons we have: prayer.
Ephesians 4:32 “and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
Since we do have faults, we will sometimes hurt other believers, and other believers will sometimes hurt us. This verse is very clear about how we should react when this happens. God forgave us, so we ought to forgive others in the same way. Forgiveness restores our relationships and helps us build each other up.
Proverbs 12:25 “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: But a good word maketh it glad.”
Sometimes we can encourage our brother or sister in Christ through a simple good word: “I prayed for you today”, “I’m glad to see you here”, “Your _____ really blessed me”. Especially when we see a fellow believer has a “heavy heart”, we ought to jump at the opportunity to show them brotherly love and encourage them.
God intends for believers to gather together, to fellowship, to build one another up. Keep your eyes open for ways to edify your brothers and sisters in Christ. Work together with Christ as your focus, consider each other in love, fight for one another in prayer, forgive one another, and encourage one another through good words. May the love of Christ be visible in the way we interact with other believers.
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Your sister in Christ,
Mission
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Your post really blessed me. Keep up the good work! 😉