Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. – Galatians 6:1-3 (The Message)
What does it mean to you to “live creatively”? How much work do you need on forgiving others? What does it mean to share another’s burden? Why does sharing burdens complete Christ’s law?
This is an old fable:
A man set fort on a journey, driving before him an ass and a mule, both well laden. The ass, as long as he traveled along the plain carried his load with ease, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the mule paid no attention to the request.
The ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the man placed upon the mule the load carried by the ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the ass, after he had skinned him. The mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself, “I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing together with his burden, himself as well.”
Like any old fables there is a moral to the story, but perhaps Paul said it best. “Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” Sometimes we think we have so much to do ourselves, we fail to recognize that there are others who are in much more need. Somehow we are all in this together so we need to help each other. Maybe that is why Jesus ended up on the cross, to show us that God is in this together, with us no matter what. Pray that we complete Christ’s law.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Showing posts with label together. Show all posts
Showing posts with label together. Show all posts
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Need of Unity
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! – Psalm 133:1 (NKJV)
What does unity mean to you? Why do you think the Apostle Paul was so concerned with unity? How can we go about promoting unity? What does it mean to be unified?
The following in an old Aesop Fable:
A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.
When they had done so, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. The tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it.
He next opened the bundle, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words, “My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this bundle, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”
Sometimes it is good to go into Paul’s letters and read what he had to say about unity in the church. He did not mean that we all have to act they same, or do the same things, or look the same. Instead he meant that we have to acknowledge our singular purpose. To glorify God and enjoy our God forever! It is easy to lose sight of that purpose as we go through the course of our days and discover minor disagreements that sometimes turn into “major” issues. However we must not break into individual sticks then. For it is only together that we can withstand a world that would see us broken. Let us glorify God together, and nothing can stand in our way!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does unity mean to you? Why do you think the Apostle Paul was so concerned with unity? How can we go about promoting unity? What does it mean to be unified?
The following in an old Aesop Fable:
A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.
When they had done so, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. The tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it.
He next opened the bundle, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words, “My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this bundle, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”
Sometimes it is good to go into Paul’s letters and read what he had to say about unity in the church. He did not mean that we all have to act they same, or do the same things, or look the same. Instead he meant that we have to acknowledge our singular purpose. To glorify God and enjoy our God forever! It is easy to lose sight of that purpose as we go through the course of our days and discover minor disagreements that sometimes turn into “major” issues. However we must not break into individual sticks then. For it is only together that we can withstand a world that would see us broken. Let us glorify God together, and nothing can stand in our way!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Friday, September 17, 2010
Ministers of Reconciliation
But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation. – 2 Corinthians 5:18 (ASV)
What does it mean to you that you are reconciled to God? Do you remember this when God feels distant? Does it make you feel more whole? What is your role in the ministry of reconciliation? What needs reconciling right now?
The following story was e-mailed to me:
There was a man who had a little boy that he loved very much. Everyday after work the man would come home and play with the little boy. He would always spend all of his extra time playing with the little boy.
One night, while the man was at work, he realized that he had extra work to do for the evening, and that he wouldn't be able to play with his little boy. But, he wanted to be able to give the boy something to keep him busy. So, looking around his office, he saw a magazine with a large map of the world on the cover. He got an idea. He removed the map, and then patiently tore it up into small pieces. Then he put all the pieces in his coat pocket.
When he got home, the little boy came running to him and was ready to play. The man explained that he had extra work to do and couldn't play just now, but he led the little boy into the dining room, and taking out all the pieces of the map, he spread them on the table. He explained that it was a map of the world, and that by the time he could put it back together, his extra work would be finished, and they could both play. Surely this would keep the child busy for hours, he thought.
About half an hour later the boy came to the man and said, "Okay, it's finished. Can we play now?"
The man was surprised, saying, "That's impossible. Let's go see." And sure enough, there was the picture of the world, all put together, every piece in it's place.
The man said, "That's amazing! How did you do that?" The boy said, "It was simple. On the back of the page was a picture of a man. When I put the man together the whole world fell into place."
In Christ, God put us back together. And wouldn’t you know it, when we are put back together we indeed can begin to put the world back together too. You who are reading this, yes you, have a part in God’s great ministry of reconciliation. We each have a part! Those of us who have been reconciled to God in Christ Jesus are now to bring people together. Look out at this divided world, where can your ministry help bring it back together? Go out and minister and do not wait anymore, for you are needed more than you know!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does it mean to you that you are reconciled to God? Do you remember this when God feels distant? Does it make you feel more whole? What is your role in the ministry of reconciliation? What needs reconciling right now?
The following story was e-mailed to me:
There was a man who had a little boy that he loved very much. Everyday after work the man would come home and play with the little boy. He would always spend all of his extra time playing with the little boy.
One night, while the man was at work, he realized that he had extra work to do for the evening, and that he wouldn't be able to play with his little boy. But, he wanted to be able to give the boy something to keep him busy. So, looking around his office, he saw a magazine with a large map of the world on the cover. He got an idea. He removed the map, and then patiently tore it up into small pieces. Then he put all the pieces in his coat pocket.
When he got home, the little boy came running to him and was ready to play. The man explained that he had extra work to do and couldn't play just now, but he led the little boy into the dining room, and taking out all the pieces of the map, he spread them on the table. He explained that it was a map of the world, and that by the time he could put it back together, his extra work would be finished, and they could both play. Surely this would keep the child busy for hours, he thought.
About half an hour later the boy came to the man and said, "Okay, it's finished. Can we play now?"
The man was surprised, saying, "That's impossible. Let's go see." And sure enough, there was the picture of the world, all put together, every piece in it's place.
The man said, "That's amazing! How did you do that?" The boy said, "It was simple. On the back of the page was a picture of a man. When I put the man together the whole world fell into place."
In Christ, God put us back together. And wouldn’t you know it, when we are put back together we indeed can begin to put the world back together too. You who are reading this, yes you, have a part in God’s great ministry of reconciliation. We each have a part! Those of us who have been reconciled to God in Christ Jesus are now to bring people together. Look out at this divided world, where can your ministry help bring it back together? Go out and minister and do not wait anymore, for you are needed more than you know!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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