What could be better than working to bring out the best in one another?

鼓励的言语，能激发他人最好的一面。

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

所以，你们该彼此劝慰，互相建立，正如你们素常所行的。-帖撒罗尼迦前书5章11节

In the workplace, words of encouragement matter. How employees talk to one another has a bearing on customer satisfaction, company profits, and co-worker appreciation. Studies show that members of the most effective work groups give one another six times more affirmation than disapproval, disagreement, or sarcasm. Least productive teams tend to use almost three negative comments for every helpful word.

在工作场所中，鼓励的话语相当重要。员工彼此间如何交谈，攸关顾客满意度、公司利润和同事间的相互了解。研究显示，在最有效率的工作团队中，成员使用肯定词语的比例，比否定、反对或讽刺性的词语高出六倍。反之，生产力最差的团队惯用负面批评，几乎是肯定用语的三倍。

Paul learned by experience about the value of words in shaping relationships and outcomes. Before meeting Christ on the road to Damascus, his words and actions terrorized followers of Jesus. But by the time he wrote his letter to the Thessalonians, he had become a great encourager because of God’s work in his heart. Now by his own example he urged his readers to cheer one another on. While being careful to avoid flattery, he showed how to affirm others and reflect the Spirit of Christ.

言语影响人际关系，这是保罗从他的经历中所学到的功课。在他前往大马士革的路上遇见基督之前，总以凶煞的话语和手段恐吓耶稣的门徒。然而，当保罗写信给帖撒罗尼迦信徒时，上帝已经改变了他的心，因此他的言语能使人得着鼓励。保罗不但自己鼓励信徒，他也劝勉信徒要彼此激励。保罗教导他们如何肯定他人，并反映出圣灵所结的果子，但要小心，免得流于谄媚。

In the process, Paul reminded his readers where encouragement comes from. He saw that entrusting ourselves to God, who loved us enough to die for us, gives us reason to comfort, forgive, inspire, and lovingly challenge one another (1 Thess. 5:10–11).

保罗提醒信徒，这些鼓励的言语并非出于他自己。保罗告诉我们，当我们信靠上帝，认识这位爱我们、为我们而死的耶稣，便理当彼此安慰、饶恕、鼓励，且在爱中互相建立（帖撒罗尼迦前书5章10-11节）。

Paul shows us that encouraging one another is a way of helping one another get a taste of the patience and goodness of God.

保罗让我们明白，当我们彼此劝慰，互相建立，便可得尝上帝的忍耐和良善。

Father in heaven, please help us to give others a small taste of the mercy and kindness You are forever offering us.

天父，祢将永远的怜悯和慈爱赐给我们，
求祢使我们也能让人得尝这甘甜的滋味。

1 Thessalonians 5:9-28New International Version (NIV)

9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful,and he will do it.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:9-28Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

9 因为神不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们借着我们主耶稣基督得救。 10 他替我们死，叫我们无论醒着、睡着，都与他同活。 11 所以，你们该彼此劝慰，互相建立，正如你们素常所行的。

12 弟兄们，我们劝你们敬重那在你们中间劳苦的人，就是在主里面治理你们、劝诫你们的。 13 又因他们所做的工，用爱心格外尊重他们。你们也要彼此和睦。 14 我们又劝弟兄们，要警戒不守规矩的人，勉励灰心的人，扶助软弱的人，也要向众人忍耐。

毋以恶报恶

15 你们要谨慎，无论是谁都不可以恶报恶。或是彼此相待，或是待众人，常要追求良善。 16 要常常喜乐， 17 不住地祷告， 18 凡事谢恩，因为这是神在基督耶稣里向你们所定的旨意。 19 不要消灭圣灵的感动， 20 不要藐视先知的讲论。 21 但要凡事察验，善美的要持守， 22 各样的恶事要禁戒不做。

23 愿赐平安的神亲自使你们全然成圣！又愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，在我们主耶稣基督降临的时候完全无可指摘！ 24 那召你们的本是信实的，他必成就这事。

25 请弟兄们为我们祷告。 26 与众弟兄亲嘴问安务要圣洁。 27 我指着主嘱咐你们，要把这信念给众弟兄听。

28 愿我主耶稣基督的恩常与你们同在！

整理：于姊妹