Visualize What Building Each Other Up Looks Like

I was talking with some ladies this past week about coming up with some ministry ideas that would benefit the community and help folks that are in need.  Then later in the week I was speaking to another lady on the phone and she was telling me that she is involved in something similar to an expo (for lack of a better description,) for women that are in need. I had never heard of it, but it sounds like such a great service. 

Apparently, a group of people,  organizations and businesses put on this event. It is for women that are low income, homeless, or just women that are struggling. The best I could understand from her description is that it is set up like an expo event. The women come in and go through different booths just like you would at a business expo event. The booths present some sort of useful gift and some of them provide services that these women may not know about. I am sure there is food involved too. 

I thought that whole concept was such a neat idea. The facility is donated.  The gift items (such as socks, gloves, hats, hygiene items etc.)  are donated. Everyone’s time is donated.  These women can come through and enjoy this event, leave with some useful gifts, a full belly, some new friends, information about services they may qualify for and most importantly see the hands and feet of Jesus at work in real time. 

Wow! Talk about visualizing how to build others up. I could picture that this is something that would make Jesus smile and something that we, as the Church, should be doing more of. 

The Apostle  Paul tells us in Romans 15:2,3,5, that those of us who are strong, or have been blessed should find ways to help those that are either not as strong or who do not have the same blessings that we do.

It would be good if we could learn what our neighbor’s needs are and seek to treat them in a way that helps meet those needs.  When we look at the life of Christ, we see that He did not come to live among us to be served, but to show us the model of a servant and how to serve.  

God is so generous and patient with us. If we seek Him,  He will also help guide us to have compassion for one another and help us treat each other the way Christ would want us to, which is to build each other up. 

The challenge of this passage could be, as humans, we have a natural tendency to think about ourselves before others,  therefore it is sometimes hard to see when others are in need.  We should seek to find ways for our strengths to serve others. 

To apply this passage to our lives, we can try to be more aware of the needs of those around us. We can look around within our communities and see  those that we don’t normally come in contact with or spend time with and see if they have needs that we may be able to meet.

What does this passage of scripture (Romans 15:2,3,5) mean to my faith? This scripture shows me that getting my eyes off of myself long enough to see someone else’s needs will help me become more like Christ. When we find ways to help others, encourage them and build them up then we are encouraged and built up in return. 

Lord, Jesus, thank You for being there to so tenderly care for me. I am truly blessed.  Give me the discernment to know when I may be an encouragement to someone else. Give me a heart that cares about the needs of others. I praise You and lift up Your name for Your patient, loving care toward me, not because of anything that I have done, but because You are Love. 

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^“2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. ³ For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me^{. 5} Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” Romans 15:2,3,5

 “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. “  Romans 14:19 (KJV)

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”  1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)

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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about Him.  

What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe?  Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him?  You can know Him.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity.  You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.  

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ!  PeaceWithGod.net

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Blog Image: Hands, Together, Community image. Free for use from Pixabay