Bible Passage: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:1-3; Acts 1:1
Sometimes, the closest friendships are the ones that are physically farthest apart.
Luke is an interesting person in the New Testament. He wasn’t a disciple of Jesus when He walked the earth, but he became close friends with the disciples and was an even closer friend to Paul, with whom he traveled.
Luke is also credited with writing two New Testament books: the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.
But it’s his purpose in writing them that catches my attention.
While the other New Testament writers are concerned with the Jewish people or the growing Church as it spread (including Gentiles), Luke’s concern in writing is his friend, Theophilus. In fact, both Luke and Acts are actually not books at all but personal letters written to this man.
Take a moment to think about this. In a world where paper was a precious commodity, Luke chose to invest the time and write two letters to his friend just so that he would know the truth of Jesus Christ.
We never hear where Theophilus lived, but we do know that his friendship was worth this level of investment, even though it was at a physical distance.
We live in a world where our options to connect are plentiful: Phone calls. Video chats. Text messaging. And yes, we can even still send a handwritten letter through the mail.
The point is that we don’t have to write like Luke, but we can reach out like he did.
To be a man of encouragement is to use the resources you have to reach out to the friend you don’t get to see often. Maybe you write a faith-filled encouragement, or maybe you just simply start by saying “Hi.” It’s the connection that matters.
So be like Luke. Reach out. You may just be the encouragement your friend needs today.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the friendships I have with men who live away from me. Help me to use my resources to connect with them and check in on them to encourage them in their faith in You. Amen.
Reflection: Who is one friend who lives far away that you can connect with? Do something to connect with them today.
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