By: Undre Griggs, Jr Members of the church should look at each other as family, and as such, we should be willing to devote our time and resources to each other. Sometimes that is as simple as picking someone up from the airport, but other times it may require months of work helping someone overcome an addiction. The world is full of temptation and any one of us could succumb to its influence. That is why it is so important that we support and encourage each other through difficult times. Galatians 6:1-2 (NKJV): Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. It is important we retain the understanding we help each other; not because we think we are better than anyone, but because we know we all need help. We are all sinners and we have all fallen short of the glory of God, and it is up to the church to help restore the world. We restore each other by sharing the love that the Father has shared with us. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV): Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. This mission is not an easy task for any member of the church. Restoring someone with love still requires the honest action of telling someone they need to make a change for the better. Ideally, love will shine through and our friends and family will appreciate our willingness to help them better themselves; but that is not always the case. The good news is if we are willing to sacrifice a little comfort for the sake of someone’s soul, we will have our ultimate reward. Galatians 6:8-9 (NKJV): For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. While the Apostle Paul started with spiritually restoring members of the church, he also wants to make sure we treat all people with the same love. While it is good to love and cherish your loved ones, it is more beneficial to love and cherish a stranger (Matthew 5:46-48). Whether knowingly or not, Christians are always representing Christ in all they do and their actions could motivate or deter someone from the church. Christ came to earth and died for all of us, so it only makes sense for the church to value each person as well.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. Every summer there appears to be a new superhero movie that millions of people feel compelled to see. Have you ever wondered what is it about superhero movies that draw our attention? Could it be because it provides an escape from the demands of everyday life? Could it be the nostalgia of childhood we want to share with our children or relive with our friends? Could it be all the action scenes filled with suspense, explosions, and special effects? While each of those things may be true, it is actually much deeper than that. As humans, we want to believe in the greater good. We like the idea that someone out there is willing to put their life on the line for someone else. Galatians 1:4-5 (NKJV): Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Superheroes provide us the ability to struggle, fail, grow, and succeed with them through their journey. When they lose, we lose and when they win, we win. We find things about their life that matches ours as we imagine ourselves doing what they do to make the world a better place. This may provoke the natural question; why do we go to fiction to find superheroes? Outside of superpowers, we find most people do not possess the superhero gene. John 15:13 (NIV): Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. If a hero is willing to sacrifice their life for another, then a villain is willing to preserve their life at the expense of another. As a result of sin entering the world, all have fallen short of the glory of the Lord (Romans 3:23). If we put man on a pedestal, they will surely let us down at least once in our life. That is why Christ wants us to build our house of faith on the solid foundation of His words. Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV): Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. If we build our house on a belief in man, that house may fall as the relationship shifts and experiences change. We must look to one greater than ourselves and find traits in Him that we wish were in us. We must then make the change in our lives because we can acquire the superhero gene. We enjoy superhero movies because they draw the best out of humanity and we enjoy seeing good triumph over evil. Well there is no greater example of good triumphing over evil than the account of Jesus and his triumph over corruption, death, manipulation, and misdeeds.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. When understanding God, it is valuable to understand why He believes it is important to treat everyone equally. There are many dangers and assumptions we have to make when we show partiality or favoritism. James 3:17 (ESV): But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. When looking at the wisdom of God, we can see the interconnectivity of each attribute in this verse. It is unlikely someone can be open to reason if they show partiality to someone or some group. Reason being, their bias will play a significant role in how they process the available information. If we prefer someone, we will excuse actions as them, “having a bad day” or something being “taken out of context”. If we dislike someone, we will say, “yeah but” to every rational point or action they take. Perhaps we will find it difficult to show mercy and be gentle when discussing something with someone we have a prejudice against. Even if we find ourselves able to say the right thing to their face; we may lack sincerity in our hearts. James 2:1-4 (NIV): My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? The danger of us showing partiality for any reason is the judgment we are making on them. For example, if we assume one person is always right; then we are naturally assuming the other person is wrong. If we always value something someone does or says higher than others; then it is reasonable to conclude we are devaluing whatever the other person is saying. We can begin to see why God would find an issue with partiality, because showing partiality is to value one person’s life greater than another’s. Acts 10:34-35 (ESV): So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. God looks at all life as equally valuable and judges each of us the same way. If we abide in His doctrine, He is pleased with us; if we ignore His will, He is saddened by us. God does not care whether we were saved yesterday or thirty years ago; when we ignore His will the judgment is the same. By treating people differently, we defame the righteous and pureness of God and replace it with our personal impure judgment.
By: Sister-to-Sister Committee I’ve often heard Proverbs 22:6 quoted in an attempt to comfort Christian parents with unfaithful children or children who have never obeyed the Gospel. As my own son crossed the 12th grade finish line and enrolled in college with no sign of obeying the Gospel in sight, I began to ponder more and more on the meaning of Proverbs 22:6. Our family, by no means perfect, had faithfully attended every Sunday and Wednesday service and could probably count on two hands the number of services missed. I had also tried diligently to model Christian behaviors before him. And yet, something continued to nag away at me about that scripture and whether I had done all that I could to train him. What does it mean to train a child in the way they should go? I began to do some research on it. The definition of training includes instructing, coaching and instilling discipline. When I think of training, I think of a trellis in a garden, and how it must be watered, fertilized and at times, pruned. I think of the water as the unconditional love that Christian parents are tasked with modeling. It starts with our love for God. If we love God, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15), and we will allow the Bible to be a source of knowledge, skill and guidance for our decisions in every aspect of our lives including raising our children. The fertilizer is the nurturing that we as parents must provide for our children. This means ensuring that our children have the right environment in which to grow and prosper. It means instilling a moral compass in our children so that even when they leave our nest they can confidently make decisions that are in keeping with the Word of God. Pruning is the process of shaping and molding our children, and disciplining them when they fail to submit to our authority. Christians are not beyond the chastisement of God, Hebrews 12:6. Shall we not much more chastise our own children when they need it? (Proverbs 13:24) In shaping and molding our children, it requires teaching them an attitude of gratitude rather than entitlement. It requires instilling in them a willingness to serve others. Modeling respect for God and for His children is also key. Training means not only providing for our children’s physical needs but also their emotional and spiritual needs. These needs must be balanced for a well-rounded product. Too much water and the plants will drown. Too much fertilizer and the plants will burn under the glare of the hot sun. Too much pruning can cause excessive stress and weakness. If you are a mother, grandmother or other female caregiver and would like to learn more on this subject, please visit our page by clicking here to sign up for an interactive workshop!
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. When you think of Jesus and the life He lived, what do you remember most about Him? He had such a profound impact on the world that a dozen of us may mention something different. Some may remember Jesus for the miracles He performed. They will talk about the healing of the sick (Matthew 8:13), walking on water (Matthew 14:25-27), and raising Lazarus from the dead. John 11:43-44 (NKJV): Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Others may want to consider His compassion and humility. They will recall His compassion when He defended a woman accused of adultery from a mob seeking to stone her (John 8:5-11). Or they may mention Him washing the feet of His disciples as a powerful example of humility and selflessness. John 13:3-5 (NIV): Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. I suspect there will be those who speak on the wisdom of His teachings. Recalling the emphasis He put on loving others more than we love ourselves; as well as loving those who wish ill on us (Matthew 5:43-48). The clarity in which He tackled fear and anxiety (Matthew 6:25), judging others (Matthew 7:1-2), forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22), and obedience (John 14:15) are lessons we use to this day. It is hard to discuss Jesus’ teachings without mentioning His willingness to always speak the truth. Jesus was not afraid to tell it like it was; even if that meant ruffling a few people’s feathers. Mark 7: 6-8 (NIV): He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” It is an encouragement to think of the impact Jesus had on the world through His words and actions. May our words and deeds afford us the same opportunity to be as influential as Jesus; and may we be remembered as someone who was honest, loving, selfless, and brave.
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Dean Road
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