1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.
Many years ago, when my son was in middle school, he had a rock painting art project. While it probably wasn’t exactly what the art teacher envisioned, I love it! He wrote, “Build Up! Don’t tear down.” There is so much wisdom packed in this simple message. As a noun, buildup can be negative. Plaque on your teeth, gunk in your pipes, ice in an ice storm, but there is power as an action verb! According to Websters, to build up is to increase, enlarge by small increments to a composite whole. You can build up steam, speed, a building, a following, and people! Small increments of love can truly impact a whole. As Kingdom builders, we don’t know which small increment will complete the whole and tip the scale from child of the world to child of God. But insincerity, or truth spoken without love can act as buildup and block the path, potentially tearing down as much as harsh or hateful words. Increasing or enlarging needs a firm foundation at the core. Jesus is our rock foundation so use his blueprint, and BUILD UP!
