1. 1.  “We exhort you.” Parakaleo: We urge you to help, exhort, console, and comfort the brethren. Here is a purpose to help others, by drawing up close beside them in love and goodwill to call them to return to living before the face of God. (Kaleo is to call. Para means beside or along side of.). Parakaleo speaks of the goodwill we have toward another. We desire to help and encourage them. It is part of loving one another.
3. 2.  “Warn those who are unruly.” Noutheteo: Warn, admonish, correct, those who are unruly, idle, disorderly, insubordinate. Place in their mind the word of God, the things they have forgotten, or do not know to dislodge and counteract the other voices and influences they are listening to. Remind them of the reality of God, the greatness of, the sovereignty of God, and the glory and mercy of God’s Son. The Greek word Noutheteo means to place in the mind. This sounds the note of God’s authority over our lives. God says, “I will honor the one who honors me.”
5. 3.  “Comfort the faint hearted.” Paramutheomai: Comfort, get close relationally to the little-spirited, faint-hearted, and feeble-minded. Get close to those who are losing their grip on God and slipping away (Ps. 63:8; Heb. 2:1). This is the note of sympathy and compassion. We rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep.
7. 4.  “Uphold the weak.” Antechomai: Support, hold fast, hold tight to the weak. Determination to not leave them to themselves. They need to hear God’s call to a more aggressive determination that they don’t feel they have in themselves. Show them God will give it to them and will uphold them. This word sounds the note of tenacity and determination to not let another person spiral downward in their weakness. God helping us, let us intervene to hold them up.
9. 5.  “Be patient with all.” Makrothumeo: be patient; longsuffering with the empowering of God to act toward others as God acts toward you. When rejected, unappreciated, or when misunderstood, --go on! Keep on persevering in all of God’s ways! Don’t give up! Keep channeling God’s mercy and patience to others. Keep receiving it for yourself so you can be a channel to others. This sounds the note of 1 Corinthians 13. The first mark of agape-love is patience, the second is to be kind.  We must be patient so we can continue to be kind. We must not lose the heart to help others. Patiently persevere in this Christlike work!

God gives us much help through our fellowship with God’s people. Don’t neglect this vital interaction to keep stirring up your faith. We need fellow believers to help us. Thank you, Lord, for the family of God.