Romans 1:12 NLT
When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
This week’s theme that keeps appearing to me is fellowship, which is a vitally important part of the Christian life.
Interesting about that is that the government is starting to loosen up the stay in place orders to get everybody moving around again.
One of the things I enjoy about being a Christian is fellowship, being around other like-minded people. Why is that?
Living in this sinful world is not easy. It is the fellowship times that help to encourage me to be out there living among unbelievers, hopefully in a manner that glorifies God with humility and compassion.
Today’s verse says, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in the faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”
The question is, “Do you bring more encouragement to fellowship, or do you go into fellowship always looking to be encouraged?”
I think that this should change as our faith grows. When we become a Christian, I think that we will need encouragement to keep the faith as we start to grow spiritually.
But as we grow spiritually, we should be there to encourage others.
But this doesn’t happen on its own; it requires that we consistently study the Word of God, and we expose ourselves to sound Biblical preaching.
If you have been a Christian for a while, and find you need more encouragement than the encouragement you provide, bring this to God in prayer until this starts to change in your life.
John 16:24 NLT
You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
It is God’s Will that we are encouraging to others in the faith, so if you bring this to God in prayer, it will happen. But make sure this isn’t so that you can boast in your efforts but that it merely glorifies God.
Trying to simplify the life of a Christian is not easy to do, but I am going to try and do it now.
We should have one goal as a Christian, and that is to hear these words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” when we wake up in the presence of Jesus Christ.
How do we make this happen:
We bring our needs to God. Application-level: HARD
We have been conditioned from birth to bring our needs to those around us. This continues into our adult life. But this is how we should understand this:
Matthew 6:25-32 NLT
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
We bring our value to those around us. God has sealed us with talents that the people around us need. Our job is to use those talents and abilities to serve those around us.
Galatians 6:7-10 NLT
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
One thing to keep in mind here, we need to focus on our efforts only. God will orchestrate the reward, and it will be just.
Far too often, we take our eyes off of what we are doing and focus on the rewards we see others getting and become resentful.
Thinking like this is a recipe for disaster.
Focus on your efforts, and do them for the glory of God.
Colossians 3:23-24 NLT
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
Heavenly Father, help me keep my eyes on Your coming glory, and please provide me with the faith, courage, and strength to persevere.
I know that You are just and fair. And that my reward comes from You and You alone.
I thank You for the opportunity to serve those around me, and I pray that my thoughts, my words, and my actions glorify You.
I thank You for the people around. Please give me eyes of compassion for the needs they have.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
