Band-aid [Part 2-- Patience]

I Thessalonians 5:14 (ESV)
"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."

This is a verse I was looking for last week when I wrote the previous blog about Christian Radio and the sugar-coasted messages it promotes. I searched and searched but just couldn't find this verse. Low and behold, God knew I was seeking this section of His word and so on Sunday the sermon was hinged on this very scripture. I almost fell out of my seat when Pastor Reid began to read this. His sermon focused on other aspects of this verse but needless to say, I needed to be reminded of this truth, it was certainly no accident.

The way I've always read this verse was like a list of 3 types of people you may encounter and the best way to encourage each of them. It is that, but it is also more. The principle is to help the body one person at a time and in the way they need. The method varies with each situation. The key to all is patience.

With a long fuse, confront the scoffer, the lazy, the "idle". You will need it.
With faithfulness, lift up the discouraged, the downcast, the "fainthearted". They will not have enough faith on their own.
With strength of the Lord carry the spiritually diminished, the immature, the "weak". They cannot stand alone.

As I've mulled this over, its become instructions for spiritual battle in the body. The one's who need encouragement are under attack and need the family of God to stand up against the enemy in their place.

The lazy have forgotten the cause they once fought for- Remind them! This may be harsh.
The Fainthearted are unsure because they lost sight of what God can do in them- Help them see it! This is a joy.
The weak are just lacking the armor of battle and must be taught to fight- Train them! This takes time.