Author: Pastor Howie

07 17 Ephesians 4.32 Are there times when a simple “I forgive you” can be just a flippant response when it doesn’t come from the heart?  From our one another passage today when we discover the true meaning of forgiveness and the means of forgiveness made possible through Christ, then we can uncover the measure of forgiveness toward others.  It’s a command.  Is there someone you are holding a grudge against?  Has someone wronged you in some way?  Have you hurt someone in some way?  We are commanded to go and forgive.  It’s only possible through Christ.  Follow His example.

07 10 Ephesians 4. 32 There are so many hurting people today – for a variety of reasons.  Many are overwhelmed by life circumstances.  They walk around carrying heavy burdens, or are distraught because someone else has just let them down, or treated them harshly.  It’s another hit to the stomach of self-esteem.  Our one another passage today is a means by which we can encourage others.  It is in some way, big or small to show kindness.  Someone has said that kindness is love with its work clothes on.  It could be in a word or maybe an act toward someone today.  How can you show kindness to one another today?

06 26 Galatians 6.1-5 Every one of us has some kind of burden that we carry.  The word means a heavy load that is too heavy to carry alone.  Let’s face it.  We need others to help us out.  Will we let them.  The word implies a general sense of helping to carry the burdens of others, but the idea conveyed in Paul’s admonition in our passage is specific.  We are to help them carry a load of sin in the sense of helping them through some temptation they may be facing or a sin they may be caught in.  The meaning also suggests that it is something we see them through to the end.  Can you be a burden bearer this week?

06 19 Galatians 5.22-26 It doesn’t take very long to understand how to get under someone’s skin.  We know exactly what buttons to push to get a response out of a person be it a sibling, a parent, a co-worker, or a class-mate.  Here Paul talks about a willful, deliberate act of provoking someone else to do wrong.  How do we combat that?  He tells us we need to keep in step with the Holy Spirit.  It’s like a marching band synchronized to the majorette directing the beat and movement.  When we follow the leading of the Spirit, He will not only develop His fruit in our life, but will direct our steps away from the sinful desires of the flesh.

06 12 Galatians 5.13 In reality, it boils down to a decision of serving self or serving others.  Our motivation to serve others it out of love, fostered first by a love and devotion to serve the Lord after which we will want to serve others.  The proper attitude and motivation to serve others in love can only come from God working in us through His Spirit.  Jesus gave us an example by taking on the lowly task of a servant and washing feet.  Then He told His disciples to go and do the same – not necessarily to wash feet, but to serve others.  What’s keeping us from serving one another?

06 05 Romans 15.14 This is perhaps the most difficult one another exhortation of all.  I’m speaking of the command to admonish on another.  The reason we are to do so is because of sin, but with there are any number of reactions both positive and negative.  It is the negative reactions that I think keep us from admonishing.  And while everyone should, not everyone should.  In two separate passages Paul shares three criteria that I think are essential qualifications for someone to have.  In Romans 15:14 he states that the Romans were both full of goodness and complete in knowledge.  They were growing and mature believers.  From Galatians 5:13 we read that a third qualification is to be spiritual.  Without these we would be harsh in the admonition and perhaps critical and condescending.  If we are all to admonish, then it strikes me that we should endeavor to meet these criteria by a regular time of self-assessment to see if we meet them.  If not, we best get busy to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. 

05 29 Romans 15.7 What is it to accept one another?  We see in Romans 15:7 our exhortation, our example, and our exaltation.  It’s all about giving God glory.  We are to accept each other in the body of Christ because He has accepted us.  That’s a tall order when it’s in our nature to be prejudicial.  But then, we don’t accept one another in our own power, but through the empowering work of God’s Spirit in us.

05 22 Romans 15.5-6 As the body of Christ, we are to be working together with one another in unity.  How are we doing?  Unity is more than just showing up at the same time, under the same roof, singing the same songs, and listening to the same message.  We may not all agree on everything, but at the end of the day, we come together with a common purpose, with a common faith, following Christ.  Unity where there is a singularity of purpose and desire comes from being in the Word of God, from our walk with God, resulting in our work for God, and our worship of God.  What does a watching world see?

05 15 Romans 14.19 In this admonition of how we treat others we are to build up one another.  It’s easy to tear down.  It takes little effort, but to build up takes time, comes at a cost.  What are we doing to build up each other in the faith?

05 08 Romans 14.13 It seems almost as easy as breathing.  I’m talking of course of being judgmental.  Paul gives us the admonition not to judge one another.  It seems the intent of this command is to not impose our own personal preferences or convictions onto others, but instead seek peace and the opportunity to build each other up in the faith.  That is nigh unto impossible if we are judgmental.  Read the whole chapter for context and then decide if we have a right to judge others.  I believe Paul calls us to a twofold action plan.  First take time to evaluate your own walk with Christ and second is to put into practice a foundational character trait if peace is to ensue in the body of Christ and that is to love one another.