A Friend Indeed

OK, yes, this is more of the love stuff, but about the time I think I am moving on to something else, PK delivers another message (that hits me between the eyes) in his gentle way. Anyway, I have been studying the Body of Christ and our relationship one to another - you know - what is the Body supposed to look like if functioning the way we should?

So, what was my daily lesson from this? One question - Have you ever gotten frustrated at someone for going through the same thing over and over when they have enough truth that they should know better by now? Honestly? I have. I am not saying it's right, I am just giving you the facts. I realize that this is not by any means a demonstration of love toward members of the Body of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:14, says:

. . . encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper].

In Romans 12, the Word also tells us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. In other words, when we think we have it altogether enough to think someone else doesn't, we are missing it. We are of the same body. We need to lift each other up and encourage each other in the Word. There are so many levels of development with all of us in many areas, so even if the devil tries to get us frustrated with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we should remind ourselves that there are those in the Body that are and have been patient with us about so many things.

When we truly love, we will exhort. Not just a smile, or a wave as we walk up the isle of the church, but we need to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. He may tell us to give someone a hug, shake their hand, buy them a book, send them a note or just get their email address and send them a scripture. The more we respond to other members of the Body the way we should (the way the Word teaches), they will get it. I used to have an instructor that often said, "some things are taught, and some things are caught." I don't know if it was an original quote, but it was a true one.

This post didn't turn out at all like I intended for it to, but here it is anyway! I am just so thankful that God didn't leave us alone to figure it out, but gave us His word and His wonderful Holy Spirit! And the more we yield, the more we grow! By the way, I put a link at the bottom of the page to read Romans 12 in the Message Bible. It has some great instruction to us in dealing with each other!

http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults2.php?passage1=Romans+12&book_id=52&version1=65&tp=16&c=12