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I Can’t Do This Alone – Part II

Dr. I. David Byrd February 15, 2020

 

Often times in worship we sing songs that say, “All I need is Jesus” and while it is sung out of a heart that means well, it’s actually not biblical. He created us to be part of a community.

 

In Part 1 we discussed the need for a close friend. Today we will look at the force multiplier, being in community. A community is a group of people we lean on when times are tough – our friends, family, neighbors and church members; People who are there for us when we need love, support and encouragement. As human beings, we need a sense of belonging, and that sense of belonging is what connects us to the many relationships in community. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of the Beloved Community which isn’t just based on proximity but purpose. The point of community isn’t just to connect; it’s to move forward together by trusting God’s plan in the midst of our circumstances. That is why Jesus takes the fatherly tone of authority when He says in the Bible:

 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

 

The church is meant to be the refuge for those who are hurt, a place where people come to have their spiritual, emotional and physical needs met. For the grieving, grief is the 24/7 awareness of the tragedy that’s befallen him or her. More and more children are growing up in broken homes, unemployment is on the rise, people are sinking deeper into debt and struggling to make ends meet. The church is where believers receive all the “one anothers” of scripture. Receiving the love of others is evidence of God’s love for us and living in us.

 

 

According to scripture, there is no such thing as a churchless Christian. God chose the Israelites to be his people. “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:12). They lived and worshipped him together in community. Following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, God then instituted the church, the Body of Christ as a community of believers. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27). I admit it’s not easy. We sometimes hurt each other, families can be dysfunctional in so many ways! But God still uses us and His design is still the best design. His way is the best way. It works and accomplishes His purposes.

 

Father, I’m thankful to be part of Your family and part of the family of our local church. It is a blessing like no other and one You desire and command Your children to partake in. Help us to not miss out on this amazing blessing You want to give you. Break our hearts to be the support that encourages the hurting in our church and in our community.

 

Thank you for allowing me to speak into your life. Hey, spend a few moments of quiet time discovering your personal application of what you just read by clicking this link  myTime with God

 

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The Journey 2020

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

 

 

Your  practical, inspirational resource for your spiritual walk

 

2020 is the year to ponder his faithfulness.  Through the puzzle of life, the Christian experience  is the greatest faith journey of all. It’s not always easy or fun, but as believers we know that God will help us through the detours and  potholes in the roadway. If you’re feeling weary in your journey, rest assured; nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God’s ordering and permission. There is no such thing as “chance,” “luck” or “accident” in the Christian’s journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God. And all things are “working together” for the believer’s good. Christ-likeness is your eventual destination, but your journey is where your faith is perfected.

My prayer for you, like Paul’s, is that you gain a spirit of wisdom and revelation:

I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I always remember you in my prayers, asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better. I pray also that you will have a greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people.

Ephesians 1:15-18

 

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Can We Just Talk?

 

Dr. I. David Byrd, December 1, 2019
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone.”                 Col 4:6
Civility dies when you give up the right to have dialogue without trying to destroy the other person. The starting point for repairing our fractured country is how we interact with others.

 

First, our conversation should be an instrument of grace even to those who we don’t think deserve it. Paul uses the word “grace”, which most often refers to unmerited favor for those who are ill-deserving. Paul anticipating our sinful nature qualified this phrase with “always”.

 

Second, our conversations should be seasoned with “salt ”. Salt makes meat acceptable to the discerning palate and is a preservative that draws out bad organisms that can cause meat to decay. Once salt loses its chemical properties it is of no value. If the “flavor” of our conversation is saltless we are useless to God, of no value in bringing out people’s best tendencies and preventing their worse.

 

  • Deliberately seek to influence the people in your life by showing them the unconditional love of Christ through good deeds (Matthew 5:13)
  • Demonstrate the counterculture to language that demeans, degrades, divides and leads to societal moral decay. (Mark 9:50)
  • Witness to unbelievers being well prepared and focused on building others up according to their individual needs with purity of motive. (Col 4:6)

 

What a privilege God has given us to be in dialogue with others. Use it for God’s glory. It’s the evidence of the call upon our lives.

 

Father,
Your Word tells us we are to be a people set upon a hill; bringing light to the darkness of this world. Help us to live out the grace you provided to us. To not withhold conversation from anyone You put in our path.

 

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

Thank you for allowing me to speak into your life. Hey, spend a few moments of quiet time discovering your personal application of what you just read by clicking this link  myTime with God