Precious Wounds

[428 words] Paul exhorted, ‘Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV). We want to “encourage one another” as Christians, but what does that involve? Our minds immediately go to positive remarks and actions that impart courage, confidence and support. Consider another, less appreciated but valuable way of encouraging. There is an old Sicilian Proverb that says, “Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.” Those who love us encourage us. They encourage us when we do right, but they also love us enough to call it to our attention when we do wrong. We call it “tough love.” Solomon said, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6). Interestingly, the word “faithful” (aman) means “to build up or support” (Strong). You remember the story in 2 Samuel 12. The Bible says, “the Lord sent…