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Today’s devotion is from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #9 Care For One Another (I Corinthians 12:25) – PART 2 I Corinthians 12:25, That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. I. The Care of the Body. I Corinthians 12:25, “That there should be no schism in the body...” So completely has God joined the whole together, that not the smallest visible part can be removed from the body without not only injuring its proportions but producing deformity. Hence the members have the same care one for another. The eyes and ears watch for the general safety of the whole; and they are placed in the head, like watchmen in a tower, that they may perceive the first approach of a foe and give warning. The hands immediately on an attack exert themselves to defend the head and the body. The legs are swift to carry off the body from dangers against which resistance would be vain. The Corinthian Christians should do the same and care equally for everyone (I Corinthians 12:25). God has unified the members together to create a natural care for one another. The very same care should be shown to one member as is shown to another member. Every member is needed, therefore we ought to be concerned if any one member is suffering. We are responsible and accountable for one another because we all share in the same body. When a member of the human body suffers, the whole body suffers. The unity of the body means that when one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers and every part hurts, and when one part of the body is honored, the whole body is honored, and every part rejoices. If a brother suffers any kind of sorrow or loss, those who are really Christians will share in the hurt; and whatever honor, success or joy may come to a brother in Christ, the same should be an occasion of rejoicing on the part of all his Christian brothers. The church is one body; therefore, it is to suffer and rejoice together. Paul clearly has the life of the local congregation in mind. He wants every Christian in Corinth to value every other Christian, and to care for him or her, just like the hand comes to bandage the injured foot, or the foot hurries to take the injured head to hospital. That remains enormously important in every Christian fellowship, congregation and church the world over. I Corinthians 12:26, “And whether one member suffer...” If the eye, the hand, the foot, etc., be injured, the whole man grieves; and if by clothing, or anything else, any particular member or part is adorned, strengthened, or better secured, it gives a general pleasure to the whole man. Take up a thread, untwist it, and you shall find that it is made up of several threads, untwisting which you shall find that they also are made up in the same way, and so on, and so on. The symbol of the true relationship of each member of any human family, or of the larger family, is of the Church. The various threads, so weak alone, become strong and mighty when twisted together; and, just as any cord is easily broken where one or more of the threads are separated, so is it in the Church. Just as there is increased strength in unity, in disunity there is increased weakness.When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. In a mature and spiritual congregation, church members will have the same care for one another. In the obedient and loving church that God has planned for His children, if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Only that sort of mutual love and concern can prevent or heal division and preserve unity. When there is unity and love in the church family, all members suffer when one suffers or is hurting. When one person is honored, all are honored because all believers are part of one body in Christ. Paul reminds us that we are a body, and as such, we each have responsibilities to the other parts. When another believer is hurting, we need to respond to that need (Galatians 6:1-2). People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care. “This is my church. It is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am. It will do a great work if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into its fellowship if I bring them. Its seats will be filled if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service. If I, who make it what it is, am filled with these, with God’s help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things I want my church to be.” Questions to Consider: What does it mean to care? What should there not be in the body? What should happen when one member suffers? Who are you going to call at 2AM when you have a personal need? Is it going to be your favorite preacher on T.V. who is halfway across the country and will not respond or is it going to be the pastor who is faithfully ministering to his church and community? Prayer, Father in Heaven thank You for saving me and putting me within Your Church, Your Body. My I fulfill the purpose You have called me to do and honor You in faithfully supporting every other believer that makes us Your Church. In Jesus Name, Amen! Thank you for reading PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #9 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #10 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #9 Care For One Another (I Corinthians 12:25) – PART 1 I Corinthians 12:25, That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. The word “care” means to be anxious about or to take thought for. Just as our physical members (foot, hand, ear, eye, etc.) take care of one another, so should we for each member of Christ’s body. Dependency means we work together; we share the workload and we also share the pain and the pleasures. Every member of the body of Christ is equal and essential. I. The Completion of the Body God's plan for His church is that we be united (I Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 1:27). God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it. In our day, there are too many feet who want to be hands and too many ears who want to be eyes. When this happens, the body is fractured, and chaos is the result! Paul calls out any actual or potential boasting in the church by insisting that every single member of the body is just as important as any other. Never let one part of the body say to another, 'I don't need you!' The Bible teaches that every member is important (I Corinthians 12:12-27). Paul imagined what it would be like if different parts of the body began to belittle the importance of other parts of the body. Can you imagine the hand saying to the foot, "Here foot, catch this baseball.” But then, when the hand drops the baseball, it bounces off the foot and rolls away. And the hand says to the foot, "You are worthless. You can't even catch a baseball. "Can you imagine the nose saying to the ear, "Boy, do you smell that barbecue on the grill? What a great smell!" But the ear says in response, "I don't smell anything." And the nose says to the ear, "You are worthless. You can't even smell." Can you imagine the different parts of the body carrying on that kind of conversation with each other? Of course not. The nose says to the ear, "It’s OK that you cannot smell, what’s important, is that you hear." The hand says to the foot, “It’s OK that you cannot catch a baseball, what’s important, is that you are able to move the body from one place to another.” The heart doesn't say to the liver, "You're not beating." Or the eye to the big toe, "You're not looking." Every member needs every other member to be in their place and doing the assigned function. Together, we are a complete body. Individually, we are a small, but vital component of a very important organism, the body of Christ! When every member of the church does his or her part and submits to God in willingly doing what they are called to do, then the body of Christ will function in absolute harmony. The very same care should be shown to one member as is shown to another member. One member of the church is not more important than another member (not to God), and it should not be to us. There should be no favoritism or partiality shown to anyone. How does Jesus express this in Matthew 19:30? Matthew 19:30, “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” God does this so “...there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” Every Christian is important. A fourteenth-century Italian stained-glass artist was summoned to design and create a huge portrait for the window of a cathedral in Chartres, France, a place well known for its stained-glass work. He laid all of the pieces he was going to use out on the floor of the cathedral. They were beautiful to behold; most of them were large and colorful. Among these awesome pieces of glass was a small, clear piece about as big as your fingernail. As the stained-glass portrait was assembled, that little piece remained on the floor. Only the big colorful pieces of glass were used. On the day of the window’s completion, the tiny piece of clear glass was still lying on the ground. The entire city gathered to witness the unveiling of the brilliant and beautiful stained-glass portrait. The artist stood in front of the crowd, made his speech, and dramatically pulled down the cloth cover. The crowd gasped at the beauty of the colorful window glowing in the sunlight. After a few seconds, however, the crowd grew silent. They sensed that something was missing, that the portrait was unfinished. The great artist then walked over to where the little clear piece of glass lay, picked it up, and placed it in the portrait, right in the center of Jesus’ eye. As the sun hit that little piece, it gave off a dazzling sparkle. The magnificent stained glass window still draws visitors. The first thing they see is that sparkle in Jesus’ eye. As small as that piece of glass was, it was very important to the portrait. And no matter how insignificant a Christian may seem; he is important to the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12). The body of Christ is also made up of believers who perform their unspectacular tasks without applause. These people are not the ones preaching the sermon or leading the Sunday School. Instead, they're volunteering to clean, plant flowers, serve in the nursery, or stack chairs after a special event. Their work is obscure as they organize so the church can operate smoothly at worship. They are valuable members of the body of Christ. They work behind the scenes, rather than being seen in the spotlight or getting praise. Prayer, Father in Heaven thank You for saving me and putting me within Your Church, Your Body. May I fulfill the purpose You have called me to do and honor You in faithfully supporting every other believer that makes up Your Church. In Jesus Name, Amen! Thank you for reading PART 1 of Biblical Building Block #9 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #9 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #8 Receive One Another (Romans 15:7) Romans 15:7, Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 1. The Greeting. "Receive ye one another." The word "receive" means to take to oneself; to receive a person as a friend; to treat as the closest of friends with the most caring kindness. Believers are to receive one another in the closest of bonds. No person is too weak or base for us to receive. A strong and mature church is one that is united where everyone accepts one another. There is no discrimination whatsoever in a strong church. If you look for a church that is made up of people who are “your kind of people,” people who are just like you in their cultural background, their appearance, and their likes and dislikes, you’re missing Paul’s command here. In other words, the other person whom you are to accept is precisely the person who is different than you are in almost every way! When we were younger, immature, we let so much bother us, divide us. When we became older, matured, we realized those things don’t matter. Today, we may ask, “Why did I let that bother me so much?” Have you ever noticed how easy it is to accept your own personality quirks and habits? When you live by yourself, all of your annoying habits are gone! But then you get married and discover that your mate has some rather annoying quirks and habits that you hadn’t noticed when you were dating! And then you have kids who somehow picked up your spouse’s most irritating quirks and habits! If only everyone in the family could be just like I am, things would go much more smoothly! And then you join a local church that is made up of some strange people! Where did all of these weird people come from? 2. The Good Example “...as Christ also received us...” Paul encouraged us to receive each other as Christ has received us. How did Christ receive us? In spite of all of our faults, Christ received us with much grace, mercy, and love. He received us when we were ungodly, sinners, and enemies undeserving to be accepted of His love (Romans 5:6-10). He saw us not as we were, but as we could be. We were not seeking after Him (Romans 3:11). He came looking for us in our lost, helpless condition (Luke 15:4). He didn’t require that we clean up our lives or make vows to change or do anything to deserve His love. Like the father of the prodigal, Jesus ran to us, embraced us, and welcomed us into His family, in spite of our smell and dirty rags! He promises, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” John 6:37. That’s how we are to accept one another. Believers are to receive one another even as Christ has received us. 3. The Goal. "...to the glory of God." The believer has the greatest pattern imaginable for how to treat the "weak in the faith”, this is Christ Himself. The goal of accepting one another is that God may be glorified. When we accept others as Jesus did, we will bring praise to God. This is the highest and noblest motivation of all. Just look at how far Christ went. Christ received the Gentiles and ministered to them. He came to bring them the mercy of God that they might praise God for His mercy. When God converted a proud, self-righteous Jew, who hated Gentiles and killed Christians, and turned him into the apostle to the Gentiles, that glorified God! God’s glory was promoted when Christ received us sinners, and it is further advanced when we who are, by nature, sinners and wrapped up in our own concerns instead receive our brothers and sisters in Christ with warmth and love. We are to receive one another that God might be glorified just as Christ received us that God might be glorified. So Christ received both Jews and Gentiles that God might be glorified. We should receive each other that God might be glorified. God is glorified when we fellowship with each other and work in harmony with each other in spite of our differences. A young teen, having no family or friends, who lived in one of the roughest neighborhoods of the city; wearing old tattered and dirty clothing that he had found. He attended a certain Sunday school class every week and was faithful to the church services. After several weeks of attending, a worker asked him where he lived. The boy told him where and the worker exclaimed, "That's on the complete opposite side of town! How do you get here?" "I walk," was the boy's simple reply." Astonished, the worker recommended, "There are many other churches closer to where you stay. Why don't you attend one of those so the walk isn't so great?" The little boy looked up at the man and said, "Because you guys love me over here." When we deny self and put others first, we bring glory and honor to God; Jesus lived for others and when we do the same, the world around us sees the manifestation love of Christ. Points to Ponder:
Prayer, Father, thank You for always seeing in me what others may never see in me and for giving me the strength and desire to serve You. Help me to utilize these truths for the purpose of ministering to others. Please show me how I can actively and passionately engage in the ministry opportunities You have sovereignly placed around me. Give me eyes to recognize these opportunities, a heart dependent on You, and a desire to come alongside people in my life to help them to grow into a deeper relationship with You. Amen! Thank you for reading Biblical Building Block #8 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #9. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #7 Admonish One Another (Romans 15:14) – PART 3 Romans 15:14, And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Today is Part 3 and the Final Part of this current Biblical Building Block. We will be looking at five ways we can encourage others or ourselves. The writer of Hebrews instructed us to be patient, tenacious in our encouragement, and not give up on others. One of the main reasons for this fault is many believers are me minded instead of ministry minded. We can be so overwhelmed by our circumstances, problems, and difficulties that we are distracted from thinking of the needs of others. It is very difficult to give joy and encouragement when you don't have it yourself. Encouragement is very important in our own spiritual growth and in the growth and maturing of others. We need it because we tend to be discouraged by disappointments. 5 Ways We Can Encourage Others or Ourselves? 1. With My Speech When geese fly in a V-formation, they can travel 72% farther than if they flew alone. They can do this by sharing the load of responsibility in leading the flock. When the lead or point goose tires, he drops back into the formation and another goose takes his place until he tires. The geese at the back of the formation fly in the wind draft of the birds ahead of them. They encourage the lead birds to keep up their speed and momentum by honking at them. Injured, weak, or sickly birds are encouraged by being accompanied by two geese who follow them down to the ground and protect them. We can learn a lot from the example of these birds in encouraging with our words those who are down and discouraged. Our words should encourage and inspire like the honk of a goose. Words that encourage are inspired by love and are directed toward the fears of the person needing encouragement. Words that encourage come from a person willing to get involved and sacrifice if need be. The Bible says our words are a very powerful source of encouragement (Proverbs 10:21; 12:18, 25; 15:23; 16:24; I Thessalonians 5:11). 2. With My Schedule Another great way to encourage someone is take them under your wing and spend time with them. Teach them, answer their questions, and give them good counsel. It takes time to be an encourager. One way you can encourage visitors at your church is to invite them to sit with you during the service or invite them to lunch. One of the best ways to encourage yourself when you are down is to spend time helping other people. 3. With My Steadfastness Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a prisoner in a Soviet prison in Siberia. He became so weak and discouraged that he wished he would die. The guards would beat and usually kill anyone that stopped working. He decided to stop working so that the guards would kill him. As soon as he did so, another Christian drew a cross where Alexander could see it. Alexander said that he was encouraged by remembering that God gives hope and courage. He decided to continue working because of a Christian who cared too much to let him give up. The tenacity of the Lord is a great source of encouragement to us and our tenacity can encourage others who need us. Do you know someone who has been rejected because of failure or other reasons? Why not seek them out and try to lift them up. Paul instructed us to do this in the letter to the Galatians. 4. With My Support William Carey was able to reach people in India for Christ and translate the Bible into 11 languages because he had people in England who held the ropes for him. They encouraged him by praying for him consistently and by financially supporting him so he could give his full attention to his ministry. Just as these gifts encouraged him, our gifts can be a great source of encouragement to those who are especially desperate. Your gift may greatly strengthen someone who feels useless, ineffective or that no one cares. Thank you cards and gifts can be a great source of blessing to others. Barnabas and the Macedonian Christians are prime examples of people who used their financial resources to encourage other Christians (Acts 4; II Corinthians 8). 5. With My Sympathy Tenderness goes a long way in encouraging others, especially when they are confronted continually with harshness. Our example, especially our love and tenderness, has a great impact upon others for good. Tenderness goes a long way in encouraging others. John 13:35, By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. We all need encouragement. Sometimes, life is downright frustrating! But we're not expected to endure it alone. Others who come beside us can help us through our hardships. A word of encouragement goes a long way. A man stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. He asked one of the youngsters what the score was. ”We’re losing 18-0,” was the answer. “Well,” said the man. ”I must say you don’t look discouraged.” “Discouraged?” the boy said puzzled. ”Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t come to bat yet.” Maybe your job demands increase faster than you can manage them. You may be feeling the burden of ridicule from your difficult boss and coworkers, or you could be watching someone else struggle with these things. If you need encouragement, know in advance where you can turn to find it. If you see someone else who needs it, be an encourager for them. Your kind word may give them the courage to go on. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Spirit inside me that urges me to encourage someone who is discouraged. How gracious that You choose to use me to help someone You love. Help me to see that as the privilege it is rather than a burden. In Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for reading PART 3 of Biblical Building Block #7 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #8 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #7 Admonish One Another (Romans 15:14) – PART 2 Romans 15:14, And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. In Part 1 of this current Biblical Building Block, we saw that to admonish is to caution or to reprove gently. Having a thorough knowledge of the Word of God should cause us to tenderly warn and advise one another. We have a responsibility to encourage one another. Today we will look at more examples from Scriptures where the Word of God encourages us. 1.The Scriptures - The Word of God (I Corinthians 10:11) One of the greatest sources of encouragement is the Word of God. The Bible can comfort like no other book because it is God's book. Where do we find those encouraging passages for the different needs we have in our life? The following list will prove to be most helpful when you or a discouraged friend need encouragement from the Scriptures. When expectations go unfulfilled, you can depend upon the Lord (Psalm 30:5; 62:5). When the evaluation of yourself is low and you feel worthless. Remember you are an ambassador for the Lord (II Corinthians 5:20). Remember you are a child of God and your labor for the Lord is not in vain (John 1:12; I Corinthians 15:58). Remember those who are weak or feeble in the body of Christ are important (I Corinthians 12:22-23). When you are evaded and rejected by others, remember the Lord was rejected too (John 16:33). When errors or failure plague you, don't quit (Proverbs 24:16; I John 1:9). When you feel aweary, abandoned, or anemic. God will help you (Psalm 3:3; 41:3; Isaiah 41:13; II Corinthians 7:6; 12:9). When engulfed by your problems or trials; remember the Lord will work them out for good (Romans 8:28; Isaiah 43:2). If God sends the storms, He will also steer the vessel. When it gets dark enough, the stars will come out. 2.Strength and support from the Lord our God (Exodus 14:13) Trusting in the Lord and waiting upon Him will encourage your life. Moses was encouraging the people by getting them to depend upon the Lord. The New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our parakletos. It comes from the Greek word parakalein, a verb which means "to encourage." Parakalein was used several ways in Greek literature. It was used to call in a coach to train a team at his own expense. The Holy Spirit is our comforter (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit counsels and gives advice (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit is our trainer and teacher (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is our helper (Hebrews 13:6). It was the word of the rallying cry. Parakalein meant to challenge the timid soldiers to fight on courageously. It was used of speeches of the leaders and soldiers who urged or encouraged each other in battle. This is what the soldiers who were fighting for the independence of Texas did when they shouted, "Remember the Alamo!" The Holy Spirit gives us boldness to live for Christ and to do His will (Acts 4:31). The parakletos then is an encourager. He is one who puts courage into the faint hearted and makes an ordinary person cope with dangerous or difficult situations. He is a helper, counselor, and one who stands by you. One of the great tragedies of our time is that there are so few kind people around. We ought to do everything in our power to encourage other believers in their walk with the Lord. Our duty toward others is to help them to grow in the Lord and to be an encouragement to them (Romans 14:19, I Thessalonians 5:11). If we are focused on ways in which we can be a help and encouragement to others, we will find that we always have an effective ministry. There is no shortage of people who are struggling and carrying heavy burdens. As we help lift those burdens, we build up the body of Christ. A young boy on an errand for his mother had just bought a dozen eggs. Walking out of the store, he tripped and dropped the sack. All the eggs broke and the sidewalk was a mess. The boy tried not to cry. A few people gathered to see if he was okay and to tell him how sorry they were. During the words of pity, one man handed the boy a quarter. Then he turned to the group and said, “I care twenty-five cents worth. How much do the rest of you care?” Points To Ponder: Each of us has a responsibility to be an encouragement, help, and support to those around us. God has called us to encourage, strengthen and build each other up. Let the Lord lead you today to someone who needs your encouragement. Questions to Consider: Whose life can God lead you to give them a word of encouragement to and make all the difference in the world? Who can God lead you to that is struggling with hurts and heartaches today? Who can God use you to extend grace and encouragement toward? PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Spirit inside me that urges me to encourage someone who is discouraged. How gracious that You choose to use me to help someone You love. Help me to see that as the privilege it is rather than a burden. In Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for reading PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #7 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 3 of Biblical Building Block #7 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #7 Admonish One Another (Romans 15:14) – PART 1 Romans 15:14, And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. The believers in Rome showed great care among one another and for one another. Paul saw wonderful love, care and forgiveness displayed for one another there. Our relationships with one another are very important to the Lord. How we treat one another is not only a reflection of our relationship with God, it should develop from that relationship. We can reflect three qualities or traits regarding the believers in Rome. Let’s consider their character, their cognizance, and their capabilities. The believers were able "to admonish" one another. Paul starts by telling these brethren that they were qualified and had the ability to admonish one another. The word admonish means to encourage, counsel, or warn. To put in mind, to implant the truth into the mind, give advice to; to guide and correct and instruct. To admonish is to caution or reprove gently. Having a thorough knowledge of the Word of God should cause us to tenderly warn and advise one another. The Bible teaches that admonishment can come from different places, and we should except it when it does. 1. Preachers (Jeremiah 42:19) Jeremiah 42:19, The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. Evangelist Peter Cartwright was known for his uncompromising preaching. One Sunday, when President Andrew Jackson came to Cartwright’s church, the elders warned the Pastor not to offend the President. In those days, the President had great power to influence a congregation for good or bad. Comfortable that their Pastor would not say anything to discredit their church, the elders retired to the back of the sanctuary. When Cartwright got up to speak, the first words out of his mouth were, "I understand that President Andrew Jackson is here this morning. “I have been requested to be very guarded in my remarks. Let me say this: Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn’t repent of his sin!" The entire congregation gasped with shock at Cartwright’s boldness. “How could this young preacher dare to offend the tough old general in public?” they wondered. After the service, everyone wondered how the President would respond to Cartwright. When President Jackson met the preacher at the door he looked at him in the eye and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men just like you, I could conquer the world!" When we appreciate and accept the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit speaking from the lips of people with conviction, we will make eternal differences. 2. Parents (Ephesians 6:4) Ephesians 6:4, And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. Do all you can to nurture and encourage your children. It is your duty and your responsibility, but there is no greater privilege than raising our children! God blesses every parent with children to be raised for Him, to bring to Him. A Christian couple once adopted a little boy from a Korean orphanage. They loved him unconditionally and encouraged him each day. One day they asked him, "Would you like to go back to Korea?" He replied, "No, because here I am somebody special." Our goal should be that our children feel like someone special at home because of our love for them. 3. Parishioners (Colossians 3:16) Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD.” Paul says we must permit the Word of Christ to live generously within us. God’s Word should be that one thing that drives our lives, our actions, and all that we do. This is how we can encourage other believers in word and deed. With God’s Word strong in us, we can exercise wisdom. By putting the Word that lives through us into action, we act out the wisdom in God’s Word. When we teach others to do this, we are admonishing them. We have a responsibility to encourage others. What we speak and what we do are the key elements to success in giving thanks and admonishing one another. Some of the most unexpected people you could imagine need encouragement. Encouragement is very important to sustain a close walk with the Lord in this world. The encouraging person...
We have a responsibility to encourage one another. This begins by being filled with the knowledge of the Lord and His Word and also being filled with goodness. God wants us to be encouragers. Questions to Consider: Who can you encourage today? Are you willing to bless someone who can offer you nothing in return? Are you willing to give just a few minutes to go the extra mile to make someone’s day? Points to Ponder: You never know what a big difference your act of kindness can make in the life of someone else! Take advantage of every opportunity the Lord gives you to encourage someone who maybe hurting. You are not defeated when you are knocked down, only when you stop getting back up. PRAYER: Father, thank You for the encouragement and comfort that comes from knowing Your Son. Open my eyes to see what You see in others. Help me to encourage them to talk to You in prayer, to hear from You in Your Word, and walk with You obeying Your Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen! Thank you for reading PART 1 of Biblical Building Block #7 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #7 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #6 Love One Another (John 13:34-35) – PART 3 John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. In Parts One and Two of this current Biblical Building Block, we saw the importance of listening to people, offering our assistance to them, and valuing people. Everyone needs practical help. Love is something you do, not just something you say. What a picture of the family of God! Paul's partnership with the Philippians was not broken even though he was imprisoned and unable to be with them. They were still family. The word fellowship means to have in common, companionship, a relation in which parties hold something in common, familiar interaction. 4. Emulate Jesus The word "emulate" means to be like or imitate. Not only does God give us commands about loving one another, but He also gives us a marvelous example. Nothing helps us understand something like an example. Just as Jesus directed this command to His disciples, there is no question we should love one another. A key testimony of discipleship to any observer would be the love of the disciples one for another. To obey Jesus' new commandment, we must emulate His love by giving of ourselves as He did. Therefore, to love one another as the Bible commands, all we have to do is look at the example of Jesus. Furthermore, the great love chapter (I Corinthians 13) is a word picture of Jesus. The Biblical definition of love is found in I Corinthians 13:4-7. I Corinthians 13:4-7, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Our text tells us love is the fulfilling of the law. If I love someone, I will keep God’s laws towards that person. Love is an evidence of salvation (I John 3:14) and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). I John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” The way we should love is “as thyself”. How we treat, take care of, and handle ourselves is how we should love others. We should keep in mind that Christian love is not only a feeling, but an act of the will. That's what Jesus did when He died on the cross. He bore our sins on the cross to protect us from the consequences of our sins and from living a life without purpose. The Bible tells us God is love (I John 4:8, 16), I John 4:8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I John 4:16, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 9 Things That Love (Charity) Does
10 Descriptions of Love
3 Things That Love Is Not
7 Things That Love Does Not Do
Thank you for reading PART 3 of Biblical Building Block #6 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #7. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #6 “Love One Another” (John 13:34-35) – PART 2 In Part 1 of this current Biblical Building Block, we saw the importance of listening to people and offering our assistance to them. Everyone needs practical help. Love is something you do, not just something you say. John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 3. Value People We show that we value people by expressing appreciation for them. Appreciation is shown in the form of praise, which is one of the most powerful forces in any relationship. There are at least two things we should value in people: 1) Value their Dependency. We see their steadfastness. Some people have stuck with you through thick and thin and you can always count on them. Paul writes that he thanked God every time he thought of the Philippian believers Philippians 1:3. The book of Philippians begins on a note of praise. Paul, a prisoner, begins the letter with rejoicing in his soul. Paul had a common bond with these believers, just as all Christians do. The Bible calls that common bond a "fellowship." This word was used to describe the bond of marriage. Paul used it at least five times in Philippians. This word is one of the keys to a better understanding of the book of Philippians. In this section, Paul expressed a great love for these people. Paul thanked and praised God for the precious memories of his days at Philippi. What a heart for people! Even in prison Paul's heart was consumed with a passion and love for God's people. This world can rob you of your freedom, but no matter what the circumstances are, you still have your heart. No wonder the Bible commands us in Proverbs 4:23, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. In Philippians 1:3-5, we see a continual praise for the Philippians. The fellowship we have is "in the Gospel." It's a fellowship of the Holy Spirit. According to I Corinthians 12:13, the Bible says “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...” This body is one. When the Spirit of God is in control of the body, there is fellowship among the members of the body. It is a fellowship that is unequaled on earth for there is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Because of the Holy Spirit's control of this fellowship, Paul could write I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Paul thanked God for his remembrance of them. It was not because of their possessions, their position in this world, or their power, he was thankful just because of who they were. Paul had joy because of these believers. In fact, this whole book is about joy. Paul painted quite a picture of joy. Paul was very thankful for the believers at Philippi. Paul treasured their fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now (Philippians 1:5). What a picture of the family of God! Paul's partnership with the Philippians was not broken even though he was imprisoned and unable to be with them. They were still family. The word fellowship means to have in common. companionship, a relation in which parties hold something in common, familiar interaction. In Philippians 1:4-5, we see a continual prayer for the Philippians. What was the secret of consistent prayer and fellowship? The answers are here in thanksgiving (praise) and prayer. It is an indication of a Spirit-controlled heart when we praise and pray for the saints. The early church was consistent in prayer. Acts 2:42, And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. There was little or no conflict, no confusion, but continuance. A continuing fellowship is a prayer fellowship. Among Christians, there may be difficulties and disappointments along the way, but never a disruption where there is a prayer fellowship. 2) Value their Determination. We see their strength. Don't take people's efforts for granted, regardless of the results. Don't forget to show appreciation for their efforts. Too often we think things must be perfect or successful to be appreciated. Loving one another also means that we practice Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” The point of Proverbs 25:11 is to show the immense value of skillfully spoken words. We should be skilled at giving compliments for efforts made. This practice will pay valuable dividends in all our relationships. We believers should respond in love to all with: 1) Peace (Romans 12:18; Hebrews 12:14). 2) Goodness (I Thessalonians 5:15; Galatians 6:10). 3) Patience (I Thessalonians 5:14; Philippians 4:5). 4) Prayer (I Timothy 2:1). 5) Consideration (Titus 3:2). 6) Honor (I Peter 2:17). PRAYER: Lord, help me to grow in my love for You and for others You have given me. I know the power of Your love can impact someone today so, help me take the time to show it to someone today. Thank you for reading PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #6 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 3 of Biblical Building Block #6 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #6 Love One Another (John 13:34-35) – PART 1 John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. The purpose of the church revolves around what we are to do for each other. More than anything else, loving one another reveals whether or not we are truly Christians. The lost person cares about neither the church we attend nor the doctrines we believe, but how we show our love for one another. The Bible mentions this supreme principle 14 times (John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17; Romans 13:8; I Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; I Peter 1:22; I John 3:11, 23; I John 4:7, 11-12; II John 5). Our Lord told His disciples, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another” (John 13:35). Our love for one another is an outward demonstration of our salvation. The unconverted ought to be able to look at our love for one another and see a demonstration of God's love for them. God's redemptive offer of love in Christ was to all men (John 3:16; I Timothy 2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; II Peter 3:9). We never reach a point in our spiritual journey where our love stops growing (I Corinthians 13:8, 13; I Thessalonians 3:12). True Biblical love knows no boundaries, it is a sacrificial love. Their love would be expressed broadly (to all) and more narrowly (to one another). In I Thessalonians 3:12, the words increase and abound has the idea of something overflowing. We are called to have overflowing love for one another. As you grow in your relationship with Christ, you will also be growing in your love for one another. That love can even overflow toward unbelievers. Our love is to abound to all people. Love is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love...” (Galatians 5:22). Romans 5:5, “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” When the Holy Spirit has control of our lives, He reproduces that same love in us. True, Biblical love is more than mere lip service. Real love demands sacrifice and commitment. I John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” While we will probably never have to lay down our lives for a friend, on a regular basis we are called upon to lay down our busy schedules and take time to encourage someone. The demands of Biblical love go far beyond cheap words. I John 3:17, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” As our Lord’s love for us, our love for one another should be unconditional. Conditional love is self-seeking, in that it is easier to love those who will return love. Unconditional love is never easy, but our Lord calls us to love one another unconditionally. An authentic believer will love their enemies and pray for those who will persecute him. 1. Listen to People We all have the natural urge to defend, justify, or rationalize our behavior. We never like to entertain the thought of being wrong. Few things reveal our love for people like really listening to them. Listening is becoming a lost art because it requires tremendous concentration. Most people speak about 120 words a minute, but we listen, or think, three times faster than that. Therefore, as we listen to someone speak, our minds have a lot of time to wander. Most problems in marriage, parenting, and other relationships are communication problems listening to one another. 2. Offer Assistance Everyone needs practical help. Love is something you do, not just something you say. In I Thessalonians 2:8 Paul writes that he and his co-laborers loved the Thessalonian believers. I Thessalonians 2:8, “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.” They loved them so much they were happy not only to share the Gospel with them, but also giving our time and assisting them with their needs. Points to Ponder: Loving one another by listening begins in the home. Some of the best advice you will ever receive will come from listening to your spouse or children. Never is it more important to listen than when there is conflict in a relationship. PRAYER: Lord, help me to grow in my love for You and for others You have given me. I know the power of Your love can impact someone today so, help me take the time to show it to someone today. Thank you for reading PART 1 of Biblical Building Block #6 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #6 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #5 Judge Not One Another (Romans 14:13) Romans 14:13, Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Paul addressed the answers to this issue by stressing how powerful and how influential our example is and the effect we have on the lives of other people. He emphasized that we need to be very careful in our attitudes, actions, activities, and appetites, lest we hurt our testimony and cause someone to fall into sin or reject Christ as their Saviour. Paul told the Corinthians, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men” (II Corinthians 3:2). Most of the people we come in contact with never read the Bible, but they sure read us. Our life has an impact on others. People often judge Christ and Christianity based upon what they see in us. Paul tells us that instead of judging others, we would be better off judging ourselves, lest our liberty put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall before a brother or sister in Christ. We Christians, of all people, can be quick to criticize and notice flaws in others. Whenever we do this, we are reminded of Jesus’s warning not to judge, so “ye be not judged”. We will all have enough to answer for without adding a condemning or judgmental attitude toward other believers. Jesus said very clearly, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7:1-2). Keep in mind that the measure in which we judge others provides the degree by which we will be judged. The way we critique and judge others will be exactly how others judge us. Instead of judging others, we should be judging what is in our own lives that could be a stumbling block or obstacle to other believers. Before criticizing, we first should take the “beam” out of our own eyes and be sure that our hearts and minds are clean (Matthew 7:3-5). Romans 14:10, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” We must remember that “each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). We must keep in mind that we will all give account to God for our own conduct and of no one else. Others will answer to God themselves for whatever error they might hold. We are to leave the matter to God. It is not up to us to determine what everyone deserves. We should be thankful that God doesn’t give us what we deserve. In view of the Judgment Seat of Christ, our decision should be to avoid at all costs doing anything which would hinder another in the exercise of their faith. Far too often we are so occupied with other people's sins that we conveniently overlook our own. If a believer is constantly looking at his own life and guarding against becoming a stumbling block, he does not have time to judge and talk about his brother. Paul was telling us to be concerned about not putting a “stumbling block” or “an occasion” to fall in the path of a brother or sister in Christ. “Stumbling block" carries the idea of an obstacle placed in the pathway of someone to cause spiritual downfall or ruin. An “obstacle” refers to anything that would trip up the brethren. The word "occasion" means "leading an animal into a trap, to snare". The words "occasion to fall" means to trap, to snare, to do something that causes a person to stumble and fall. We should be constantly looking at our own life making sure that we are not putting a stumbling block in another’s path to God or causing another to stumble or fall into sin. We must decide that we will refuse to do anything that will harm the spiritual life of the brethren. Our goal, should be to build up the body of Christ by establishing stronger bonds and relationships. If you are concerned about your example, there are some questions you can ask yourself before you do anything questionable. 1. How will this affect me or others? 2. Will this cause others to stumble or will I be steppingstone? 3. What does the Lord think about this? POINTS TO PONDER: We are to judge but one thing - if you are a stumbling block to a brother. We should avoid providing stumbling blocks or obstacles obstructing the growth of another. We are either steppingstones or stumbling blocks. Today, pray for discernment about how you react to others. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: What kind of example are you at church or work, can others tell you are a Christian? Ask God to reveal if you are laying any stumbling blocks, particularly for new believers? Ask God to purify your heart and mind in everything you do, seek to be pleasing to God, and to be a good witness? PRAYER: Father, use me to impact others. Help me to be a steppingstone and not to be a stumbling block, In Jesus name Amen. Thank you for reading Biblical Building Block #5 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #6. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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