Weekly Devotional - INTERACT WITH GOD'S PEOPLE - June 7, 2010

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

INTERACT WITH GOD’S PEOPLE

 

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.

Hebrews 10:25

Jesus said, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). That was certainly my experience around the kitchen table with Jo and Maria on Tuesday night. It was the first time I met Maria. She’s a beautiful Hispanic sister in Jesus whose love for God glows and gushes from her tiny frame. Her single-minded life purpose and focus is to share God’s love with people.


In our two hours together the only thing that interrupted our discussion and the prayers that Maria seamlessly and spontaneously wove into our conversation was her ringing cell phone. How rude, right? Someone needs to take Cell Phone Etiquette 101. Not Maria.


Hurting women were calling Maria because they needed prayer. Maria was a safe place, an ambassador of love that provided something these women hadn’t experienced in the church. Her tears flowed for the women; my heart broke that the church had failed to be the Church.


God has given His people a number of one-another commands. When we gather at church, GEMS, and around kitchen tables with brothers and sisters in Christ, are we “one-anothering” each other? Check the ones that are true for you:


_____You live in harmony with one another. You are not proud, but are willing to associate with people of low position (Romans 12:16).


_____You love one another. Not just the gals you drink coffee with, but you have a huge debt of love for the people in your congregation who are doing everything wrong (Romans 13:8).


_____You offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9). You provide practical and genuine care even when it’s not convenient or easy.


_____You speak to one another (not just about the weather or your kids), but with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, you make music in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19).


_____You encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Not just at Bible Study or GEMS, but every time you connect with God’s people you encourage them to press on and strain toward the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).


PASSION Step: Look up all the one another commands in Scripture. Feed the fire by obeying them in every relationship.

The church is not something additional or optional.

It is at the very heart of God’s purposes.

Jesus came to create a people who would model what it means to live under His rule.

Tim Chester and Steve Timmis