“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (KJV)
Paul’s instructions here are wonderfully realistic. Warn the unruly, comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, and be patient with everyone. Different people need different things, and wisdom knows the difference. Some need a gentle nudge, others need comfort, and nearly everyone needs patience. It is the work of a community that pays attention to each other. A bell that has fallen quiet in the grass at dawn still holds the memory of every call it rang. In a similar way, steady encouragement keeps sounding in people’s lives long after the moment passes. Be patient toward all.
