#850 God’s Response to Spiritual Concerns – Being Sinned Against, continued

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This may shock some, but Christians can and do actually sin and they occasionally sin against another Christian.  Many years ago a deacon at a prominent large-city church inappropriately touched another deacon’s wife, causing the wife to quit attending church.  Making up excuses at first, she finally informed her husband what had happened.  Naturally upset and at first desiring revenge, they followed God’s Word, spoke directly to the other deacon and settled the matter without it going further.  Although it was difficult at first, both the wife and husband eventually forgave the “sinner.”[1]  Following God’s Word is not always easy; however, we are called by God to take steps when sinned against by a fellow Christian.[2]   Taking these steps does not take the place of forgiving, they are in addition to forgiving a fellow Christian; and as Christians we should strive to obey God’s Word in order to honor and please our Lord.

As a Christian, do you obey God’s Word, even in difficult situations?

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.  If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”   (Matthew 18:15-16 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

[1] Personal conversation with husband of victim

[2] Matthew 18:15-17

#590 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Godly Love

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For the previous few devotionals we have been looking at how we as Christians should interact with other Christians; there being fellowship, partnering, encouraging, and sharing one with another.  In fact, how we treat and interact with our fellow Christians truly reflects our true Christian commitment.  God expects us to treat each other with love; however, this is not love we can develop and implement on our own.  It is love that comes from our love of God through the Holy Spirit within our hearts.  It is also the same love with which God has loved us, even to the extent of sacrificing His life that we may have eternal life.  This illustrates the extent our love should be for fellow believers; a love that is strong, active, continual, sharing, and ready to endure hardships for their benefit.  As we fellowship with fellow followers of Christ, let us do so with a pure demonstration of Godly love!

If you are having trouble fellowshipping with fellow Christians, allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s love through you to others!

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”   (Ephesians 5:1-2 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#587 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Sharing Our Blessings

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we are to encourage our Christian brothers and sisters through sharing, we previously gave the example from the New Testament where they would share their possessions, but that is not the only way we can share with those who have a need.  In the early church deacons were called to minister to the widows[1] while special offerings were taken at various churches for poor and needy saints.[2]  Granted, there are numerous programs today for both groups; however, there are many of them that drop through the crack and are faced daily with basic needs.  Today, we can share the blessings we have received through many Christian ministries that are available, many in our own local congregations.  Food panties, clothes closets, and other ministries are available for our sharing, and they probably could use our work assistance in addition to any donations we may share.  As the Lord has blessed us, we as Christians should share with brothers and sisters in Christ who are less fortunate and in need.

Do not just consider donating to the various Christian social ministries, if you are able to do so, spend some time volunteering with one of them!

“And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”   (Acts 2:45)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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[1] Acts 6:1-7

[2] I Corinthians 16:1

#585 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Bearing Burdens

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Being a Christian does not guarantee that the road of life will be easy as we are subject to health, financial, relational, and other problems just as unbelievers are.  Sometimes these problems develop into burdens, extremely heavy loads, with which we may have trouble handling.  A Christian with last-stage cancer was attempting to set up cancer treatments at an out-of-town clinic but was stymied with one problem:  paying for the non-insured travel, meal, and lodging costs.  Upon hearing of the situation, a fellow Christian acquaintance offered the patient enough money to cover the lodging and meal costs while another fellow Christian not previously known by the patient made financial arrangements for the patient with an airline, both bearing the burdens of the Christian cancer patient.  There are other difficulties and problem areas within a person’s life that he or she may have trouble dealing with or carrying alone; these being burdens we as Christians may have the privilege of bearing with and /or for the fellow Christian.

Part of your responsibility as a Christian is to be willing and available to assist Christian brothers and sisters whenever you see or hear of a difficulty he or she may be having!

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”   (Galatians 6:2)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#584 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Encouraging Each Other

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Does it not feel good to have a Christian brother or sister stand up for us, help us, and encourage us?  It may have even been someone we were not familiar with that was there for us as a Christian.  We as Christians are called to be encouragers to one another on the basis of our common salvation in Jesus Christ.  A man in Scripture named Joses (Joseph) was given the name Barnabas by the apostles, a name that means “son of encouragement,” aptly describing his nature of encouraging others.  He sold land and gave the money to the apostles for poor Christian believers in Jerusalem; he spoke to the apostles on Paul’s behalf after Paul was converted;[1] he supported and encouraged Paul and John Mark on their first missionary journey; and subsequently mentored and encouraged John Mark in the ministry.  We as Christians have a choice:  to be negative and avoid our fellow Christians or obey Scripture and be a “Barnabas” as we help and encourage each other.

Demonstrate your Christian commitment by being a “Barnabas” to your fellow Christian brothers and sisters!

“Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” (Acts 4:36-37 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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[1]Acts 9:26-30

#583 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Quarrelsome Christians

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In our relationship of fellowship and partnership with our Christian brothers and sister, how we relate and support each other makes a real difference.  There are many Christians that spend their time being negative and critical of everything around them.  This is especially true in local congregations where there seems to always be someone or a group that is against any progressive changes in the church.  Although changes that would be contrary to God’s Word should be challenged, changes that would honor God while furthering the church’s outreach and worship experience should be welcomed.  Constant negativism and criticism bring down both the Christians who are expressing such and those around them who have to listen to them.  Staying true to God’s Word is of the utmost importance; however, we as Christians have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ to partner with them in the positive advance of the Gospel.

Are you a positive influence in your local congregation or one who criticizes change?

“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,” (II Timothy 2:24 – NKJV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#582 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Fellowship in Christ

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A product of Christian brotherhood, being Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, is Christian fellowship.  This fellowship comes through the power of the Holy Spirit in the Christians’ lives and should be accompanied with a joyful attitude on the part of all Christians.  When we refer to fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters, we recognize that we all have a commonality in our salvation through Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father, an inheritance, grace, and suffering for the sake of Christ.  Another word that is closely related to fellowship in the Bible is “partner.”  As brothers and sisters in Christ, our times of fellowship bring us closer to each other, resulting in Christian partners who band together in worship and witness for our Lord.

Develop stronger fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ so you may be partners with them in Christian activities that honor and glorify Him!  

“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”  (Romans 15:7)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#581 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Gospel Changes Social Structures

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christian brotherhood transcends all barriers whether social, economic, political, religious, or gender.  When we accepted by faith the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, we became children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is the Gospel that changes social structures by changing the people within structures, resulting in no distinctions between brothers and sisters in Christ, they all being equals before Christ.  The question we as Christians have to ask ourselves is, “Do we look down on fellow Christians?”  Our true Christian commitment is reflected in how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ; God expecting us to treat them with a brotherly love that comes specifically from our love of God through the Holy Spirit within our hearts.

How do you treat your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?

“Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?”  (Philemon 16)

May God Richly Bless You Today