Tag Archives: Care

We Need Each Other

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Christianity is easy on Sunday.  Well, outside of getting out of bed and getting the kids dressed. That part can be a challenge.

But, it’s really easy to be a Christian on Sunday. There are folks all around us that are of the same purpose and vision and desire.  Everyone is smiling, everyone is together, everyone is supporting.  Everyone is trying to behave.

It’s easy on Sunday morning to be a Christian.

What about today?  Today will be a lot harder. Not everyone will be supportive.  Not everyone will be pulling for us. Not everyone will support you in a your faith. Some may mock you.  Some may laugh at you.

There will be temptation. There will be trials. There will be opposition.  It’s tougher to be a Christian on a Tuesday than it is in a Sunday.

Listen to what Paul says today about this in Philippians:

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

Paul said that we are to live a citizens of heaven and live in a way worthy of God.

How?  How do we stand up to temptation and do these things.  He tells in us in the end of that passage.

Stand together as one.  One spirit.  One purpose. Fighting together for the faith. Stand together.

We need each other.  We need each other on Sunday, we need each other on Tuesday. The only way that we can stand as Christians is to stand together.

That is our calling today. That is our duty today. To be one.

Today, when you are tempted. When you are struggling. When you are in need. Turn to a fellow Christian. Let them help you. Let them pray for you.  Let them uphold you.  Let them be your strength.

And today, if you see a fellow Christian in need, help them.  Support them.  Help give them courage and strength. Be there for them.

We need each other. Today, and every day. We need each other.

How We Treat One Another

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Today was one of those cool days when I was reading and I noticed a theme emerge in the texts this morning. First, from Psalm 72, talking about the King:

1 Give the King your justice, O God, *
and your righteousness to the King’s son;
2 That he may rule your people righteously *
and the poor with justice.
3 That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and the little hills bring righteousness.
4 He shall defend the needy among the people; *
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.

Then, from Leviticus

9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.

And, finally, from 1 Thessalonians

12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; 13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

What is this common theme?  What stood out?  In each of these passages, as Christians, we are called to do something. Help those less fortunate. Care for those in need. Love one another.

Basically try, as best we can, to love God and love each other.

The light of Christ within us must make a difference not just in how we live.  It must make a difference in how we treat one another.

The Christian life is not only a life of moral stands, but it is a life of love and service to God, AND to each other.

The Christian life is not a life lived in an ivory tower.  It is a life lived among each other. It is a life lived in an imperfect world with imperfect people.  It is life lived in among challenges and trials and work and worry and sweat and tears.  It is a life that is sometimes very hard.

And, it is a life that calls us not to be just “good” people, it’s a life that calls us to make the world a better place. We are called, we are commanded, to work for good.  To care for those that are weak, to give our lives for something greater than ourselves.

To live for God and live for each others.

In the end, our love for God is seen in our love for each others.  If I say I love God, but hate my brother or sister, what good have I done?

The Christian life, in the end, is so much concerned with theology or belief or opinions.  The Christian life is concerned with our love for God Almighty. And with how we treat one another.