How Well Do You Know Your Neighbor?

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” – Gal 5:14

Do you really know your neighbor?  Specifically, I’m talking about your brothers and sisters in the congregation.  Even as an Elder, I struggle with this one.  Although I see each of you at Sunday Worship on Sundays I struggle to really know you as individuals.  Maybe you struggle with the same things.

What are their likes and dislikes?  What are their hobbies or things that interest them? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses?

I ask these questions because as we strive to follow our Lord each and every day, we do it with various interests, strengths and weaknesses.  Many things confront our paths in this struggle to live our lives pleasing before God.

Can you really do it alone?  I can’t.  Aside from attendance at the assembly on Sundays being a necessity; one of the greatest blessings we share is the common bond of brotherhood in Jesus Christ.  The bond reaches across just Sundays, and reaches into our every day lives.

Have you considered reaching out to a brother or sister who needs it?  Have you considered being the strength for someone else’s weakness?  The rock for their instability?  The arm to hold onto for their stumbling?  The light for the wanderer?  The feet for those who can go no further on their own?  The Shelter for those in the middle of a storm?  The instructor of the unlearned? – You get the message.

May I encourage you to look across the isle, choose a neighbor that you don’t know so well, and get to know them.  Find opportunity to spend time with them.  Invite them over.  We need to be a close family of God.  We need to desire the presence of each other above anything the world has to offer.  Doing this will not only make someone else feel good, it will bless you immensely and strengthen you as a Christian.  Think about it!

LelandFleming

Serving our Master

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

A person’s loyalties must be undivided. The Master teaches us that we cannot serve money and God at the same time. Over the years I have worked hard at not letting the love of money rule my life. However, when you think about it, this principle is true when it comes to serving any two masters and not just money.

Have you ever had more than one boss? One will say, “I need you to do this job today,” and the other will say, “No, I want you to work over here today.” Before long the first boss is trying to overpower the second boss as your mind struggles trying to decide which one to obey. At some point, one of them ends up not being happy, and it feels like the only one that loses in this struggle is you. Frustrating isn’t it?

I have come to realize in my own life, that when one boss, “myself,” tries to take control there is chaos because he tries to work contrary to the real Master of my life.

When an individual submits to Christ, they must put to death the desires of self and allow Christ to be the Master. The apostle Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Christ is the Master of our lives when we serve Him and not ourselves!

CraigKeel

Lot’s Wife

Gen. 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Imagine you’ve lived a long life. You have a husband and family. You have raised daughters and have seen them marry off. The place you call home has so many memories. Everywhere you look you can remember an event or time in your life. Now the city you call home is not perfect; in fact, there is sin everywhere. Fornication and adultery seem to be at every street corner, but it’s a sinful world. You reason that there is no way to avoid sinful behavior. You live your life and try to be the person you are supposed to be despite the influences around you. This is home. It’s where your life is. It’s where you have built relationships, and seen your children grow. It’s your comfort zone. It’s home. Then imagine in a moments notice you are told to leave. Everything around you will be destroyed. The Lord will destroy the city by fire and brimstone. Your world comes crashing down. You look around you as your husband scurries to grab your belongings and you are taken back to the time when your daughters learned to walk and talk. You see the spot in the corner where one child fell and bruised her knee. All you see is memories. You are told to hurry and so you shake the cobwebs out of your head and grab your clothes. You can’t help but notice all the things you will leave behind, because there simply isn’t room to take everything. Tears threaten to fall as some of your children refuse to heed the warning and decide to stay. What will become of them? You make it out of the city just as things begin to change. You can feel the heat of the fire and you can smell the smoke. You hear the agonizing screams of your neighbors calling for help. You realize what is happening. Your house is gone. Your children are gone. Your life, everything you’ve ever known is changing, and suddenly you just can’t take it anymore. What will happen from here? Where will you live? How will you survive? How can you start completely over in a new place? You’re worried. You’re uncomfortable not knowing what the future will hold. Once again you remember the way it was. Turning your head slightly, you think about what your leaving behind. And then, ever so slowly, you turn around to look one last time at your life.

I think we sometimes read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and look down on Lot’s wife for her lack of faith. After all, she disobeyed a direct command when she looked behind her, and God turned her into a pillar of salt. She did in fact disobey, but are we really any different? Has there ever been a time in your life where the unexpected happened? Has your world ever seemed to come crashing down? If so, did you find yourself thinking about what was, maybe even wishing things could go back to the way they were?

I don’t know many people that like change. We make plans and get our lives started and then except it to stay the same. Now there is some change that we can all agree is good. The birth of a child and marriage are just a couple of happy occasions in which most enjoy the change. But then there is change we don’t expect and certainly don’t want. Maybe financial trouble, or the loss of a job, or perhaps there is unexpected sickness or death in the family; these are changes in life that no one expects or wants.

When God closes a door, he opens a window. That is a saying I’ve heard all my life, but it’s so true. When life happens, and change occurs, look to God. He is a comfort in time of need, and strength in the storm. Instead of looking back behind you at what could of been or what was, look ahead at the promises God gives.

Lot’s wife lacked the true faith that God was in control. She had been given a command, a warning of what was happening. That alone should have told her that she had nothing to worry about. God was going to provide for them what they needed. When we fail to keep our eyes on the Father, it becomes much easier to look at the earthly things around us, and in this case, behind us. Maybe life truly was better yesterday. Maybe today brings trials and tribulation. That’s okay. Look to the Father, because He is in control, and he knows your future.

Jer. 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Don’t follow in this woman’s example. You won’t turn into a pillar of salt, but you will live in misery, not able to truly enjoy the blessings in life, because your focus will be on the negatives. Take the positive approach, and live each day counting your blessings, looking forward to Heaven, which is our expected end. When life gets you down, remember this verse.

Rom.8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Melody Chatman