May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

One story comes to mind that best illustrates this verse (some say the story actually happened; others say it’s urban legend). While waiting for the Maestro to come out to play, a little boy slipped away from his parents and jumped on stage and sat at the piano. He began playing the only thing he knew: Chopsticks. The crowd started murmuring, and many were getting vocal about taking the kid off the stage.

Out from behind the curtains, the Maestro appeared; the murmuring died down. The boy continued to play. The Maestro leaned over the boy and spread out his arms and helped to jazz up Chopsticks. Over and over again the Maestro whispered into the boy’s ear, “Keep going, keep going, you’re doing fine. Don’t worry about them. You’re doing fine. Keep going.”

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father…encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

This is what The Maestro is saying to us: Keep going. Keep at it. Don’t worry about them. You’re doing great! Keep it up. It’s sounding great. Don’t give up. Don’t give up.