You're Not Finished!

You’re Not Finished!

Revelation 3:2
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

The thing that keeps me going; the motivation that reignites my passion for ministry at the beginning of a New Year is the fact that I’m not finished. God has more for me to do. The things that he spoke over my life have not been accomplished yet; I have to finish what he started in my life.

This morning you should awaken with a renewed determination to finish what God started in you. God is the author and the finisher of your story and you are not finished. You have more to do. There are people who might have thought you were finished but it ain’t over until God says it is over. It’s time for you to finish. This is how you do it:

1. Wake Up! Sometimes, we can fall into a lull or go through the motions and not realize that we are sleepwalking through our best years. Every morning you ought to wake up earlier so you can spend time with God and get to working on your future. You still have time to do it but you have to wake up now.
2. Strengthen what remains and is about to die. There’s something you were doing that was great but it’s in danger of dying because you’ve neglected it. You still have time to get it back because it’s not dead you just have to strengthen what remains.
3. Jesus has not found your deeds complete. Have you done everything that God put in your heart and mind to do? If not, then you are not finished. You can’t move on to the next level until you’ve finished everything on the previous level. Finish what God told you to do so he can take you to the next level this coming year.

Dear God,

Please enable me to finish strong. Refresh my mind, my spirit, and my body so that I can strengthen what remains and was about to die in my life. Now, more than ever I am determined to finish. I know that the race is not given to the swift or to the strong but to those who finish.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

A Prayer for My Friend

3 John 1:2
I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!

A Friend is somebody who wants to see you do well even if you are doing better than them. A friend is somebody who will walk with you when you're sick until you get better. A true friend encourages you to keep walking in Truth when you would rather settle down in falsehood. Needless to say, “Good friends are hard to find!” When you find a good friend make sure you pray for them.

The Apostle John was commending his friend Gaius for walking in the truth and for the love he had shown to everybody else. John opens his commendation by praying for his friend. This morning I want you to think about a friend that has helped you and pray this for them:

1. Pray for good fortune in everything they do. Pray for them financially. A friend wants another friend to do better financially. Not only will you pray for them to be financially blessed but you will encourage them to that end.
2. Pray for their good health. We should all be encouraging each other to live healthier. As we approach a new year pray for your friend to eat healthier, exercise for good health, and that God would heal any health issues.
3. Pray that their everyday affairs would be successful. It always helps when you know that someone is praying for you when you are involved with daily endeavors that involve skill, strategy, and favor. When two or three touch and agree on anything Heaven pays attention and it is done in heaven as it is on earth.
4. Pray that their soul prospers. This is really the most important part of this prayer because if their soul doesn’t prosper they will not be able to handle the other three. Pray that their soul is strengthened and that they are successful spiritually in walking in the truth. What does it prosper a man to gain the whole world and mess around and lose his soul?

Dear God,

I pray for my friend today that you would bless them in every way today, financially, physically, socially, and spiritually. Bring them out of depression, heal their body, and restore them financially. Father, they need a breakthrough now! Please put them in a place of prosperity in the New Year. They have been faithful in helping others now Father God please return the favor to them in this New Year. Thank you for blessing my friend and while on others thou art calling please don’t pass me by.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

It's All About Timimg

John 7:6
Therefore Jesus told them, “the right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.”

There are two types of time in the New Testament, or in Koine Greek; Chairos and Chronos. Chronos was clock time, sequential time. Chairos was special; “the right time,” God’s time.

We are always somewhere between the two, waiting for God’s time to sync up with our time. For example, you think it’s time for promotion but God’s timing still has you in the same position because he’s still working on you. You want to share something with a friend that will help them to be a better person but if you don’t share it at the right time it can hurt them more than it can help them. For us anytime is good, but for God it has to be the “right time” when he has everything in place.

Jesus’ brothers wanted him to go up to Judea during the feast to promote himself as a public figure. Jesus knew that the religious leaders in Judea wanted to kill him and it wasn’t time for him to die, neither was it his purpose to be a public figure. His family wanted something for him that God had not ordained for him to accomplish. Jesus told them, “It’s not my time, any time is right for you.”

It’s all about time and if we are not careful we will either move ahead of God or miss God altogether if we are not aware of what time it really is. In order to keep up with God’s time you need to make sure you:

1. Don’t let people push you into something God is not ready for. Be anxious for nothing. When God has something for you he usually accompanies the assignment with an overwhelming sense of peace that let’s you know it’s going to happen when it’s suppose to happen. When you have to campaign and push for something it could be that you are pushing yourself into something God has not sanctioned.
2. You can’t hurry God; you just have to wait. Those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength they will mount up on wings like eagles; they will run and not get faint, they will walk and not get weary.
3. Make sure of your time while you wait. Waiting on God’s timing is not an idle waiting. God wants us to prepare ourselves and to serve him while we are waiting for his fullness of time. When God’s time comes to fruition you should be prepared because you were productive while you were waiting.

Dear God,

Today, let us use our time wisely. Help us to make the most of this day and to be keenly aware of what you are saying to us. We don’t want to move unless you say move. Order our steps today so that we will have an inner awareness of what time it really is.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

The Queen James Bible?

But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say? John 5:47

There was a news report last night on a new version of the Bible called the, “Queen James Version.” It is a version of the bible created by those who support the LGBT community. They have taken out references of homosexuality because they don’t believe that these verses were accurately translated.

Just imagine how many versions of the bible there would be if we all took out the parts that offended our particular preferences or proclivities. I do believe that there are some inaccurate translations in the King James Version because he had the bible translated into Old English from its original Hebrew and Greek, but there are some principles that cannot be omitted just because we don’t agree.

I do believe that we have to wrestle with the texts original language for an accurate read. I do believe that we must look at the historical context it was written in and compare it to now. I do believe that the bible is the inspired word of God who is perfect, written and transcribed by inspired men who were imperfect.

Moses was, an anointed imperfect man who God gave his holy commandments to. Jesus, who was without sin, the son of God, told the religious leaders of his day, “If you do not believe what he (Moses) wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

We have to believe both! God’s word does not change and if we discredit the written word how can we hear the revealed word through Jesus Christ?

Matthew 5:17-18 “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.
19-20 “Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

We Have to Keep God’s Word

1. Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” John 14:21 We can agree to disagree on how some of the bible is interpreted but there are two commandments that we must agree upon: Matthew 22: 34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”

37-40 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

2. Jesus said, “If you keep my commandments, you will never see death.” John 8:51 Jesus is speaking of eternal life. The bible is our Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. If this life were all there was to living, we should all live as we would like but because there is a life after this one, it’s important to know the guidelines for Holy Living which is a prerequisite to entering the Kingdom of God after this life is over.

3. People now we belong to God when we keep his commandments. I John 2:5
If you believe in Jesus, you have to keep God’s word….all of it. Yes, we should reason together, led by the Spirit of God for the most accurate translations but we cannot delete what God said.

Dear God,

Help us to keep your word, all of it, not just the parts we want to hear. The grass withers and the flowers fade but your Word shall stand forever. Give us your Holy Word, if we can hear from you then we will know what to do. Speak Lord for your servants are listening.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Turn on the Light

John 3:19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil

One of the great traditions of Christmas is all of the beautiful lights that adorn the houses and trees. Although I love looking at them, I must admit I don’t enjoy the labor of putting them up. It seems that by the time you put them on your house it’s time to take them back down.

Jesus is the light of the word and he said, “If I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me” It is our privilege in this season to lift up the light of all lights but don’t be surprised if some people don’t appreciate the light. Some people love darkness rather than the light. Some of the same people who love Christmas lights will despise Jesus’ light! Christmas lights are for decorations; Jesus light is for direction. Christmas lights accessorize; Jesus’ light exposes things hidden. Christmas lights are seasonal; Jesus’ light shines for all eternity. Christmas lights are for show; Jesus’ light allows him to show up.

When you are doing evil deeds you hate light. When you are doing right you welcome the light. When you are sleep you hate for the light to come on. When you are fully awake you welcome the light so that you can be productive. It’s time for some of us to turn on the light.
How do we turn on the light?

1. Choose entertainment that brings light not darkness. In a world so decrepit and violent we need more light. I don’t like going to see a lot of movies involving violence, demons, witchcraft, murder, and mayhem. I want to see something that is going to make my soul feel better when I leave. The same with music, we need to hear something that is going to bring light into our souls. Whatever we put in is what is going to come out.
2. We have to make sure our eyes are full of light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Luke 11:34
3. Instead of cursing the darkness light a candle. When we intentionally do good in the world we are lighting candles. When we find the world devoid of light we must choose to do good and light candles through our good work. There are plenty of opportunities in the world for us to turn on the light by lighting candles of good works.
4. Live a life that reflects God’s Glory. Just like the moon doesn’t have any light of it’s own neither do we. As Christians we are to reflect the Glory of Jesus Christ by letting his Spirit operate in us.

Dear God,

Help me to walk in the light, beautiful light of Jesus Christ. Purify my heart and clean up my life so that your light might shine through me. Thank you for illuminating my life.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Let Me Refresh You

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, (2 Peter 1:13 NIV)

When your computer has been left on a long time it becomes sluggish and ineffective. There are some updates you have missed that would cause it to perform better. The only way to get optimum performance out of it is that you must refresh it every now and then.

The Apostle Peter writes the early Christians in his epistles to refresh their memory on how they are to remain effective and productive. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, (2 Peter 1:8 NIV). For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we can also find ourselves sluggish and ineffective because we have not been refreshed. Our minds can easily become corrupted by the evil influences in the world. That's why it's important to be refreshed by the Word of God and update the software of our minds. Here are some of the programs you need to download today:

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV)

1. Faith is the foundation. It is impossible to please God without faith. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2. Goodness. Being good simply means doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason.
3. Knowledge. We should study to show ourselves approved.
4. Self-control we must be disciplined enough to restrain ourselves from things we want but don't necessarily need. All things are lawful but not all things are beneficial.
5. Perseverance. We need the ability to endure difficult times. Tough times don't last but tough people do.
6. Godliness. We need to always think as 'What would Jesus do' in any given situation then act it out.
7. Mutual Affection. Treat other people like you would want to be treated.
8. Love. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love the hell out of people today.

Dear God,

Refresh our minds, our hearts, and our Spirits today. Help us to be productive and effective. Thank you for not giving up on us. I appreciate the chance for a Fresh start today. Refresh us with your Holy Spirit I pray.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Don't Give Up

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Since I was a little boy, I can remember going to church. My mother took us to church every Sunday, it was as normal to my life as drinking water every day or breathing air. Church is what got us through rough times. It was our filling station. It was there by faith I received by sight and fell in love with Jesus Christ.

Today, it seems so many have given up on church or made it a last option on their weekly to do list when in actuality it should be first. Why?! “Why do we have to go to church?” It’s where God is. It’s where the people that Jesus died for gather together. It’s the bride of Christ. It’s the place where miracles still happen. It’s where we meet to encourage one another, It’s the Old Ship of Zion, and it has landed many of thousands.

When Jesus comes back, he’s coming back for his church. Will you be ready when Jesus comes back? This is not the time to give up on life or the church.

Here’s what we need to do if you feel like giving up:

1. Spur one another on toward Love and good deeds. We have to give each other a little push towards Love and helping other people. What the world needs now is Love and the people who belong to God need to display it more and more.
2. Keep meeting together. When we come together on Sunday Morning there is so much power in the place because something supernatural occurs when two or three believers come together to worship God and call on the name of Jesus. We’ve got to keep meeting together.
3. Start good habits. It takes 21 days to start a new habit. For the next 21 days make up your mind to attend church without anything stopping you. For the next 21 days make your mind to meet with other believers to help strengthen your faith. Join a growth group on Tuesday nights at New Direction Christian Church or tune in online at www.N2NewDirection.tv 6:30pm CST on Tuesdays.
4. Encourage one another to keep coming to church. If you know someone who has not been to church in a while, invite them to come to church with you this Sunday.

Dear God,

Thank you for the Body of Christ that we call the church. Strengthen us so that we do not give up meeting together. Help us to look eagerly toward the day when you shall return. I want to be in Church and the Church to be in me when you come back to get your bride.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Got Milk?

Hebrews 5:12
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again, you need milk, not solid food!

Milk does the body good but not so much the soul. There was an ad campaign not long ago pushing the consumption of milk. Their tag line was, ‘Milk does the body good’ or simply “Got Milk?”

Milk is essential to a growing child because it aids in building strong bones. Babies start out on milk because they don’t have teeth to eat solid food but as they mature they move from milk to meat. They are weaned from their mother’s breast to being able to feed themselves. They move from dependence to interdependence.

As baby Christians, we start out on milk or the elementary teachings of Christ, what is salvation? Who is the Holy Spirit? What is sin? As we mature we should be able to discern good from evil by putting into practice what we have learned. By now, having been in church this long, we should be teaching others but we still require milk because we have not put God’s word into practice.

It’s time for us to move on to solid food!

1. Study to show yourselves approved. Attending worship on a weekly basis is necessary but it’s just the start. The second step is to become a student of God’s word. Every day you need to feed your soul the word of God by having daily devotional time. It’s also important to get into a Growth Group to study the bible with other Christians.

2. We have to be doers of the word not just hearers. When we put the word of God into practice it gets in our bones. Jeremiah said its like fire shut up in my bones. The more we actually live out God’s word the stronger we get.

3. We have to make disciples. After we have been students of the Word we then need to move on to teaching and sharing the Word. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all people teaching them the things that he taught us.

4. Leave the elementary teachings about Christ by not returning to sin. When you continue to fail fundamental teachings in school they will hold you back. When we keep failing in the same areas in our lives it holds us back to moving onto spiritual maturity. Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin, each victory will help you to win.

Dear God,

I’m ready to move on to higher learnings. I’m ready to graduate from milk to meat. Help my mind to catch up with my body. Use me to teach others what you have taught me. Thank you for not leaving us behind but instead growing us up into the fullness of Jesus. We love you Lord.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Got To Be More Careful

Hebrews 2:1
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
My son, Jaden, came hopping down the stairs, grimacing in pain. I asked him what had happened. He said, “I hit my toe again. It’s the same toe I hit the other day. “I asked him jokingly, “Why did you do that?” He said, “I’m not looking where I’m stepping I guess.” I told him, “Son, you got to be more careful.”

How many of us keep stumbling over the same thing, and keep hurting ourselves in the same places over and over again? It would seem by now, after all the pain from previous encounters that we would have learned to watch where we are stepping. It would seem that we would pay more attention to where we are going but we keep stepping on the same stuff.

God gives us his word so we will not stumble while we are walking. In fact, the bible says, that a righteous man’s steps are ordered. David said, “God’s word is a light to my feet and a lamp to my pathway.” God gives us his word so that we will not stumble but it’s up to us to be more careful so that we will not stumble.

What we have to do is:

1. Pay more careful attention…The bible tells us over and over to be sober and alert. When we pay more careful attention we can avoid potential danger if we are sober and alert. When we don’t pay attention is when we stumble into something that could cause us unnecessary pain.
2. Pay more careful attention to what we have heard. We have all heard enough preaching and truth telling to save the whole world but the question is, ‘Have we applied what we have heard?’ Hebrews 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
3. Do not drift away. Texting and driving are equivalent to drinking and driving because we do not have focus on the road. Many of us are in danger of crashing because something else has our focus.

It’s time for us to pay more careful attention to what God has already told us so that we will not drift away and stumble into something from which we cannot recover.

Dear God,

Please forgive me for losing my focus and stumbling in the wrong direction. Help me to regain my focus so that I can walk in the direction that you would have me to go. Today, I will pay more careful attention to where you are taking me.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Don't Worry About It

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Worry is advanced interest in things that may not even happen. We waste time and energy on too many things and people who are not worth our interest. We need to make up our minds today that I’m not going to worry about it!

Instead of putting advanced interest in things that may never occur I will invest my time and energy into:

1. Praying. Jesus said we have not because we have not. When we ask God for what we need in Jesus name, he will provide and answer our concerns.
2. Make Supplication. Supplication is when we make a humble and urgent request to God. When we have an urgent need we can go to God humbly and he will show up in our time of need.
3. Give God Thanks. Before we ask God for anything else we need to go ahead and give him thanks for what he has already done. Often when we begin to thank God for what we have our anxiety dwindles because we reflect on God’s faithfulness.
4. Accept God’s peace. When we do the above three things God will give us an overwhelming sense of peace that surpasses all human understanding.

Dear God,

Today, I choose to Worship and not worry. I’m turning all of my concerns over to you because I know that you can and will handle it.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Stand Your Ground

Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything to stand.

Stand your ground means to stand up for one’s rights; to resist an attack. To refuse to do what someone else wants.

Another black teenager was gunned down in Jacksonville, Florida under the “stand your ground” defense. Jordan Davis, age 17, was shot sitting in a SUV with his friends by 45 year old Michael Dunn who fired his gun nine times into a truck full of teenagers unarmed. He said they were playing their music too loud.

After this shooting there has been much momentum to repeal this dangerous law that has been abused by racially motivated attacks such as Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin. This law was never passed for racially aggressive men to chase down teenagers to murder them at whim. It was passed so that citizens might defend themselves against an attack not for them to become the attacker.

I believe that we should stand our ground in the case of an attack but not in a way that takes life but rather gives life. When the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians to stand their ground, it was a defensive posture that gave life even as you protected your own life. It was a defensive posture rather than an offensive posture.

In order to stand your ground the way that God wants you to you need to put on the full armor of God by putting on:

1. The Belt of Truth. Truth is what holds everything together. Truth is not our perception of what is taking place but rather a divine revelation of what is reality. Truth is not a fact but a person. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” We must be embraced by the love of Christ in order to know the truth.

2. Breastplate of Righteousness. Our hearts must be protected by Righteousness. The heart is one of the most deceitful things. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. We must protect our heart through righteous living.

3. Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Instead of running people down to kill them, our feet should be ready to run and make peace. George Zimmerman should have remained in his car instead of chasing Trayvon down to confront and kill him.

4. Shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Our Shield of faith in God should help us when people try to attack us with their accusations and mean spirited attacks. We should have the ability to absorb attacks without being drawn into violent outcome.

5. Helmet of Salvation. We need to keep a cool head in confrontation because we know that this battle is not ours but the Lord.

6. Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 God’s word is more effective in arguments then pulling out destructive weapons that only take life but don’t give life.

7. Pray without ceasing. If we were to pray when we feel threatened God would reveal to us a better way to handle it other than reacting violently

Dear God,

Too many young people have died in the inner-cities of America due to gun violence. Father, help your followers to model a better way in handling conflict. Help us to put away our “swords” and our guns and pick up your word and walk in your way. Help us to “Stand our Ground” by standing on your word. Help us to spread peace and stop spraying bullets. Today, I will put on the full armor of you God and stand my ground. I will not go backwards but forward

in Jesus Name,
Amen

It's Time for an Upgrade

Ephesians 4:22-23
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds.

When I got up this morning my computer was flashing reminding me that an update was available for my computer. Some of my programs were not working efficiently so the programmer made some changes in the software that needed to be applied to my hardware. If I do not keep up with my upgrades then my device whether it’s my desktop, iPad, or iPhone will not work at optimal level.
You and I are supposed to be working at a higher level but we are behind on our upgrades. As a matter of fact some of your old files have become corrupt, and even though we are receiving new information we can’t use it because we have old files. It’s time for an upgrade.

Our old files represent our former way of life. There is a way we used to live before we were saved that doesn’t sync well with who we are now. It’s time for some of us to pay attention to the little icon jumping in the mainframe of our spirit reminding us that it’s time for an upgrade. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Some files need to be deleted. When I try to upgrade my wife’s phone for her she often doesn’t have enough memory because other programs that she is no longer using are taking up too much memory. We have to go through her phone to discover which apps are no longer necessary because they are just taking up too much memory. What are some things that you need to delete from your memory because now they are just taking up space?
2. Run a Virus Scan to see what files are corrupted. Sometimes, we are operating without realizing we have some corrupt files. The Apostle Paul says our old selves are being corrupted by its deceitful desires. We have some viruses that have been picked up from sites we’ve visited or bad messages we have received from other people. Those viruses are hiding out in our system undetected, slowing down our performance. That’s why David said to God, “Search me and see if you find anything in me that is not like you.”
3. Refresh our attitude. Sometimes, when your computer has lain dormant for too long, it needs to be refreshed. Every day you should refresh your mind by shutting down and allowing God to speak to your mind, heart, and soul. Through daily meditations, which include prayer and reading you will refresh your spirit.
4. Restart your computer. You have to restart so that all the new you have upgraded can be applied to your heart and mind. If you have been idle in some area of your life it’s not too late to start over.

Dear God,

Upgrade me today so that my mind can operate at a higher level in cooperation with your Holy Spirit. Let your Spirit guide me into wholeness today. Thank you for my Upgrade!

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Help Them Up!

Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

It’s just human nature to help people up when you see them fall down but as time goes by, it seems we get greater satisfaction seeing people fall than we do seeing them get back up. Think about all of the TV shows dedicated to seeing people fall on their faces, fall off skate boards, have biking accidents, all while we sit back, grimace and grin. We have created a culture that gets enjoyment from seeing people fail and fall.

As believers, it should be our desire to see people get back up instead of falling down. All our efforts should go into building people up and not tearing them down. There is no way in the world as a Disciple of Christ that anybody should fall around you and you not reach down to pick them up. In fact, the only time you should be looking down on somebody is when you are reaching down to help them back on their feet.

The writer of Romans tells us that we should do three things to help in the failings of others:

1. We who are strong. We have to make sure we are strong ourselves so that we are in a position to help when people need our assistance. We need to keep up our spiritual disciplines of prayer, reading scripture, fasting and serving to make sure we are strong in the Lord.
2. We ought to bear with the failings of the weak. Teammates don’t leave team members on the floor. Soldiers don’t leave wounded comrades on the battlefield. Church members don’t abandon struggling church members bleeding in the pews. Sometimes, “bearing” up for the failings for the weak means that we have to take some hits for our “failing” friends while they are being restored. We should never kick anybody while they are down.
3. Don’t please yourself. Self preservation has become the rule of the day. We look out for number one, which turns out to be us. Jesus said the greatest commandment in the bible is “to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.” Two men were in the woods when they came upon a huge grizzly bear. One man bends down to tie his shoe. His friend said, “You can’t out run a bear, why are you tying your shoe?” The other man said, “I don’t have to outrun the bear, I just have to out run you!” We have to learn how to survive together and in some cases, to die together.

We have to return to a paradigm of helping those who have fallen instead of celebrating their demise.

Dear God,

Help me to be the kind of person that stops to help people back up instead of kcking them while they are down.

In Jesus Name,

Amen