Well i have to ask myself the questions, Am i encouraging others and am i truely building any one up? As this passage in 1 Thes 5:11 is saying. If i am not , then how can i get started? How have i been encouraged by others and how have i been built up? Who are the dear ones responsible for this? Who took time out of their busy lives to invest it in an old sinner such as i ? And how are we to know that what we are doing is going to make the difference or not, i don't guess we get the inside scoop just yet as we do it anyway, knowing that our footsteps are guided by the one who keeps us safe in His loving care. We have no clue as to how the most simple of jestures and kindnesses can do to another individual. We haven't walked in their shoes, we have no idea what they are going through nor could we being in our own version of reality. People are hurting inside and need a touch from above. We can be the hands and feet of our Lord and go and do the things He says do. Obedience is a wonderful thing. Now we don't need to be extravegant or go all out either, the very least that we do to these my brethren , we have done to the Lord. Imagine that, so that when i build up another and encourage another I am in essence doing the same to Christ.Which leads me to the notion of when He was struggling up that ole hill to pay for the sins how much would He need these encouragements, I say this for His human form being God and man, His human side endured all that we go through and more and if God is in time, before time, end time, all time, whos to say that the encouragement and building up you do today didn't give our Lord and Savoir the extra ooomph He needed just when He needed it most, Amen~S