GROWING TOGETHER
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
DON'T LET YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, FAILURES, MISTAKES, SOCIAL STATUS OR EDUCATION LEVEL ~DEFINE~ YOUR VALUE. THROUGH GOD'S EYES, WE ARE ALL EQUALLY VALUED AND TREASURED; THAT'S WHAT MATTERS. I'M ABLE TO HAVE PEACE KNOWING IT'S OKAY IF I'M NOT ACCEPTED IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE I KNOW JESUS VALUES ME. ACCEPT OTHERS FOR WHO THEY ARE AND KNOW THAT JESUS VALUES THEM TOO! GOD TELLS US TO NOT BE OF THIS WORLD BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF HIS MIND THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
EVEN THOUGH I'VE MADE MISTAKES, I'VE NOT ACHIEVED EVERYTHING I WANT IN LIFE YET, AND I DOUBT MYSELF. I AM ABLE TO LEAN ON THE FACT THAT JUST BECAUSE I HAVE ALL THESE EXPECTATIONS FOR MYSELF THERE IS NOTHING, I CAN POSSIBLY DO TO LESSEN THE VALUE AND LOVE JESUS HAS FOR ME.
I HOPE READING THIS MADE YOU REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE VALUED AND LOVED TOO!
~ H. PLUMLEY
THE CHURCH IS MEANT TO BE A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS JOINING TOGETHER FOR ONE PURPOSE. RECOGNIZING THAT TRUE LIFE IS DENIAL OF SELF WITH A VISION FOR ETERNITY; BUILDING OTHERS UP AND STRENGTHENING ONE ANOTHER AS IRON SHARPENS IRON. WE LONG TO REACH OTHERS AND SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST BUT THAT IS NOT WHERE WE WANT OUR PURPOSE TO END; CONTINUING TO WALK ALONGSIDE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS BECOMING LIKE CHRIST THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP. WITHOUT THAT COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, WE LOSE A VALUABLE, ESSENTIAL PART THAT ENABLES US TO GROW IN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER. IRON CANNOT SHARPEN IRON IN AND OF ITSELF BUT WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, TOGETHER WE CAN HELP STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES WE FACE.
THIS COMMUNITY IS NOT PERFECT. WE RECOGNIZE OUR NEED FOR GRACE UPON GRACE. IT IS WITH LOVE THAT WE LONG TO GROW CLOSER TO CHRIST AND OFFER A PLACE TO GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD TOGETHER. WE RUN THIS RACE TOGETHER, NOT WITH A COMPETITIVE END, BUT IN ENDURANCE TOWARDS THE ETERNAL GOAL. THIS COMMUNITY ALLOWS US TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WITH A COMMON GOAL TO STRENGTHEN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IT'S A PLACE WE ALL BELONG; IT'S OUR FATHER'S HOUSE.
MAY WE SEE THIS IN OUR CHURCH AND IN OURSELVES. MAY WE RECOGNIZE OUR ROLES AS HIS CHURCH AND YEARN TO HAVE EYES OF COMPASSION FOR HIS PEOPLE. MAY WE OFFER GRACE BEFORE JUDGEMENT. MAY WE NOT COMPETE BUT ENCOURAGE. MAY WE NOT BE COMPLACENT BUT DAILY SEEKING. MAY WE BE WILLING TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE IN LOVE AND HAVE WILLING HEARTS TO ANSWER HIS CALL FOR SERVICE. MAY WE LOVE GOD WELL SO WE CAN TRULY LOVE HIS PEOPLE AS HE DOES. AS IRON SHARPENS IRON, MAY WE WORK TOGETHER. MAY WE STEP UP AND BE THE CHURCH.
PROVERBS 17:27
IRON SHARPENETH IRON; SO A MAN SHARPENETH THE COUNTENANCE OF HIS FRIEND
~ C. ELSWICK
