1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 (NLT)
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
As believers, its easy to get caught up in the “routines” of being a Christ follower. Praying, studying the Word, attending service, and even reaching out. Often neglected, however, is the act of reaching in. By reaching in, I’m not referring to some sort of meditative mysticism. I’m talking about reaching inward when it comes to our body. Many times we busy ourselves so much by reaching out to the least, lost, and broken outside of our four walls that we overlook the need for encouragement within. This isn’t a loophole where I’m granting you permission to stop reaching out. I’m simply suggesting you follow Jesus in reaching both out (to the world) and in (to the Refugees). Full circle.
An example: John and Jason are the “faces” of Refuge. They are the pastors. Its their “job” to shepherd the flock. We hold them in high esteem and look toward their example. We sometimes have the thought that their lives are perfect, that they never grow weak or weary, that they’re superhuman, like they have capes underneath their church clothes. But in reality, they are people much like you and I. People who need encouragement, need a kind word, need to be reached out to. And they aren’t alone. How many Refugees do you know that toil both on stages and behind-the-scenes who could use a hand- a hand of help or applause. A pat on the back. An offer to talk. An invitation to dinner. An “I’m proud of you!“ sentiment. Yes, I know we fellowship and visit and eat. But I’m referring to one-on-one reaching in. By doing so, we’re completing the following:
1. Imitating Christ - Jesus’ entire life was about reaching the least, the lost, and the broken. But notice as you read the Gospels that Jesus continually reached in as well. Pouring his love, time, and teaching into a small group. A rabble that he held accountable, scolded, and encouraged time and time again.
2. Strengthening the Body - As we’ve discussed previously, serving the Lord is exhausting and sometimes lonely work. In order to maintain balance, its as important for us to reach in toward other Refugees as much as it is to reach out. By building up the body, we will gain endurance and perseverance to continue reaching out.
3. Completing the discipleship process - The church isn’t a factory spitting out new believers and sending them into the world unprepared. Once Jesus delivers us a new believer, we’re responsible for building them up. We do this by continuing to reach out to them as much as (or more than) we did when they were lost. Its easier for some to make a decision for Christ; the difficulty comes in living it out daily.
