Designed to Help Each Other
Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: John 17:21-26
click here to read the scripture
Scripture Quote: So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (NIV)
Christians can be funny people - We reach out and want to help others in their time of need, but recoil when others wish to help us when the tables are turned. We always think that we can handle trouble on our own. But God did not design us to be autonomous. Think of the paralyzed man who had four friends dig through a roof to lower his mat down to where Jesus was healing. And there was also Johnathan who came to his friend, David's, aid by helping him run to safety from King Saul who wanted to kill him. Abram helped his nephew, Lot, escape when he had been taken in battle. In short, many people helped each other in the stories of the Bible.
Friends and family want to minister to us during our rough times. We should allow them to help us in practical ways like picking up groceries, straightening up our house, or by fixing a meal for us. These small gestures are acts of love and compassion that, as fellow members of our church body, they have the right to offer and the need to be accepted. We must know how to give, but also how to receive the emotional support and practical acts of love from our church body.
Today’s meditation: If we can’t receive, we steal the giver’s joy.
Memory Verse: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35 (NIV)
Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: John 17:21-26
click here to read the scripture
Scripture Quote: So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (NIV)
Christians can be funny people - We reach out and want to help others in their time of need, but recoil when others wish to help us when the tables are turned. We always think that we can handle trouble on our own. But God did not design us to be autonomous. Think of the paralyzed man who had four friends dig through a roof to lower his mat down to where Jesus was healing. And there was also Johnathan who came to his friend, David's, aid by helping him run to safety from King Saul who wanted to kill him. Abram helped his nephew, Lot, escape when he had been taken in battle. In short, many people helped each other in the stories of the Bible.
Friends and family want to minister to us during our rough times. We should allow them to help us in practical ways like picking up groceries, straightening up our house, or by fixing a meal for us. These small gestures are acts of love and compassion that, as fellow members of our church body, they have the right to offer and the need to be accepted. We must know how to give, but also how to receive the emotional support and practical acts of love from our church body.
Today’s meditation: If we can’t receive, we steal the giver’s joy.
Memory Verse: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35 (NIV)
RSS Feed