The Rainbow Trout

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. (NIV)

Have you ever been fishing? I grew up in Maryland and Florida, so I used to go fishing all the time. I love fishing, especially since I caught the most fish.

When you catch trout, the minute you pull them out of the water, all their rainbow colours go away. Then they become just a plain colour. They start gasping in the air when they are removed from the water. They will soon die if you keep them out of the water.

This is like it is with God's people. We must encourage them with the love of Jesus and keep them in the "water" of God's love through the Holy Spirit! Then waters of love will flow from us to them, and from them to others! And their colours will shine and glow! The world will know they belong to Jesus!

These are people with hearts, people with pain, people with a past, people who need to know Jesus and His resurrection and saving power! We must share what we know with them in truth and in love. These are God's trout, the beautiful fish whose rainbow colours only stay as long as they are in the water — the water of the Holy Spirit.

We must help the Body of Christ stay in the water! They must be encouraged to shine with their colours and individuality and reflect the love that Jesus has so graciously poured upon them! We must love one another! Help to keep your fellow fish as beautiful as possible.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, please help us not to judge people coming to the church to seek you and find you. Please enable us to see their gifts, talents, and potential to be awesome disciples of Jesus. Help us not to look at their outward appearance, but see their hearts, just like you do. Help us to encourage them to stay filled with the Holy Spirit and to walk in Your love. In Jesus' precious and holy name I pray. Amen.

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