As a swimmer, I always viewed my sport as very independent. After all, most of my time was spent with my head under the water while the noise of the world remained above. However, one of the perks of swimming breaststroke was hearing my teammates cheer me on as I raced up and down the pool, their voices breaking through the muffled sound of the crowd when my ears broke the surface with each stroke.

Not surprisingly, my times rapidly improved when my teammates were cheering me on. Their encouragement not only made the race more fun, but it also made me better.

In a world that often celebrates independence and self-sufficiency, it's easy to forget that we were never meant to go through life on our own. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul reminds us of the incredible strength and freedom that comes from leaning on the Lord and each other. Contrary to societal pressures, we don't have to carry every burden by ourselves. We were built for community, accountability and mutual support.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing."
–1 Thessalonians 5:11

This verse encapsulates the essence of encouragement, yet it's essential to delve deeper into the meaning of this encouragement. It goes beyond simply cheering each other on. It's about inspiring one another to live a life that aligns with the profound truth of our salvation and the hope of eternal life.

Read the rest of the article for how community keeps us close to Christ.

-FCA-