Being A Friend

If you are looking for a friend, you will find that they are few. But if you will be a friend to many , many will be a friend to you.
Pastor William

Romans 14: 1-3
Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues. One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat; and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him.

Forgive me if I banter on about this subject, but I think it is one that needs a further diving into the finer points of its presence in our lives. Paul extends his thoughts on the matter in Colossians 3:11 “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and un-circumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.”

Now that’s cutting down into the heart of the matter isn’t it. What Paul is telling us is that our “Grading” is unholy and un-Christlike, for Christ is “All.” This tells me that it is Christ who defines our friends, not our lifestyle or social standing. It means that that I am letting Christ and His purposes in this world define who my friends are.

We should be allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us to those in need of Christ, it is not a choice it is an obligation that we have to Christ. Paul speaks of the importance of this again in Romans 1:14-15 “I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. So I am eager to preach the good news.” It is the Good news that should lead us in the choosing of our friends, and those befriended by Christ…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William

Accepting One Another

It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going.

Brian Tracy (1944-

Romans 14: 1-3

Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues. One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat; and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him.

Acceptance is important. We ourselves want it, but it is amazing how much after we have received it, we begin to grade the levels of those around us. Some are even proud to only have a certain kind of friends and would not be caught running around with those beneath their level. It is prideful, and it is hurtful to many that desire simple acceptance.

When we run into others in the faith it is important to remember the importance of humility. Christ taught us that it was the most important trait we needed as Christians, it is a daily “heart check” to rein in our flesh. Our point of view here is not so important, but it is the view point of where we are all going that should drive our faith.

God thinks very highly of each of us, but when we begin to grade, to put each other on different levels, socially, or in any other way, we become distasteful to Him. It’s something to think about in our daily lives isn’t it, how we choose our friends? Let’s all become people that find points on which to agree and strive together for the lost in our world, not a social standing. We shouldn’t be “high maintenance,” but servants of one another…God’s Blessings.

Pastor William

We Must Agree

A man lives by believing something; not by debating and arguing about many things.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881, Scottish philosopher, author)

Romans 14: 1-3

Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues. One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat; and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him.

Some people love to debate things. Usually they are trying to prove to someone else their point of view is better. There are so many churches today. Independent, American, Southern, Northern, you get the idea, and they differ sometimes on the smallest things. The pity is that we allow these things to prevent us from working towards the same goal.

The main goal of the Church today is to lead people to faith and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet, we find so many ways to keep us from working together to accomplish this goal in these “last days.” I believe that if we were to examine these things we would find many of them small or silly. Just tools of Satan to stop the work of salvation.

I believe when we get to heaven we will all find something that we were doing wrong, or backwards. But, I think that I can safely say that there is one commandment that’s hard to mess up if we would just practice it faithfully, and that is to love one another. Drop the differences focus on Christ, and you’ll find it’s hard to get that wrong…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William