By Rev Stewart Gibbs

“Remember….therefore to comfort one another with these words” – 1 Thessalonians 4:18

We are fast reaching the end of the year. With the clocks changing and the days swiftly moving to Advent and Christmas, times seem to be changing fast. Of course they always do!

However, this season –  from Remembrance Sunday to the New Year – gives us an opportunity to pause, to reflect and to remember.

We can remember the celebrations of years past, the good times we had, the good people we spent them with.

For nearly all of us the significance of Christmas goes deep, in so many different ways.

For many of us this time of year helps us to focus on the unchanging love and purposes of God.  

In the quote from 1 Thessalonians St Paul is writing to a group of people in what is now northern Greece. They lived 2,000 years ago in what was a very different world to ours. But some things never change. The deep questions of life are still the same. Those people wanted to know what the purpose of life was. They found the answer in the love of God, and salvation through Jesus Christ. That assurance made them want to go further – How should they live their lives to please God? What happens to their loved-ones who have died? What does the future hold? And is there an ultimate purpose to the Universe? Wow! The message of Jesus certainly gets people thinking.

It may get us thinking too. Indeed it might have prompted us to read this little article! I believe we can trust God for the answers. Indeed in 1 Thessalonians St Paul assures us that God appointed us to receive salvation through Jesus (5:9) and that we will be with the Lord for ever (4:17).

St Paul is prompted to say that we should comfort one another with these words. May they offer comfort to you this day and in whatever you are going through this week – good or bad. May they be a help to you through the season ahead. And may you know that offering words of comfort like this is at the heart of the Christian faith.

Who is God prompting you to offer that word of comfort to at the moment?

Do hold on to the unchanging good purposes of God for you and for others.