By: Undre Griggs, Jr. Accountability goes a long way in helping you to improve some aspect of your life. However, for it to work, you need to be honest with yourself and others. When someone is compelled to ask the body of Christ for forgiveness, they are not only repenting, but they are asking for help to stay on the path of righteousness. Galatians 6:1-5 (ESV): Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. When you help someone deal with a temptation, you must always be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Even though your goal is to help them change something about their life, if you are not careful, you may be the one changing. Even if their temptation is not a temptation to you, you need to remain humble in their time of need. An arrogant heart can make us susceptible to other transgressions. We are expected to bear each other’s burden (have a sympathetic heart), and if we allow ourselves to believe we are better than someone else’s situation, we risk appearing unsympathetic and insensitive. James 5:16 (ESV): Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. It is all too common for Christians to look at their own situation and believe they are wiser or better than someone else. Paul says anyone who believes that is deceiving themselves as we have all fallen short of the glory of the Lord. By pretending to be something we are not, we are only cheating ourselves out of being healed. By openly sharing our shortcomings with others, we receive an accountability partner and prayers of restoration. That is why Paul advices us to test our works. The better we know our own heart, the less likely we will look down on others when they transgress. Which will ultimately aid us in being more compassionate and sympathetic when helping others.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. God wants us to know that He is there for us whenever we need Him. If you are in need of a friend, He will be your closest confidant. If you need some advice, He will be your trusted counselor. If you need protection, He will be your shield. God will strengthen you in the way you need and when you need Him most. Isaiah 41:9-11 (NIV): I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Whether you are believer or a nonbeliever, you will face some form of persecution. As a believer, our objective is to only face persecution for Christ’s sake, never from our own misdeeds. The problem does not come from persecution, but from fear to persuading us to trust in something other than God. When your trust in God fades, you start to lean on the security of the world. You start to befriend the strong and vote for the powerful; even though they reflect the traits you should avoid the most. Proverbs 29:25-26 (ESV): The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice. The apostle Paul encourages Christians to remain faithful to God in the face of persecution. Paul reminds Timothy that Christians do not have a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, love and self-control. Your victory is in the life, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and there is no weapon on this earth that can change that. It is only by us relying on what the world has to offer that can alter our fate. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV): For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. What makes succumbing to fear so damaging is the fact that it requires a person to believe that God is not trustworthy. Whether you do not trust in His will or you trust too much in the will of man, you are leaning too much on your own understanding. When we trust ourselves more than we trust God, we begin to rationalize, justify and compromise our values. Paul wants us to remember that the power of God’s love is all we need, and even if that does not provide what we want here on earth, it will surely be more than we ever dreamed in heaven.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. Through Jesus Christ, Christians have the ability to accomplish many feats. Sometimes these achievements are common and admirable, but other times they will be seen as impossible and arduous. Hebrews 13:15-17 (ESV): Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. No matter the situation, Christians are expected to “continually” offer “sacrifices of praise to God”. When providing a few examples of what these sacrifices may look like, the first is the words we speak. It is tempting to get into debates and arguments over matters we believe we have the advantage, but it that bringing glory to God? When we accomplish something amazing, do we take credit or do we give the credit to God? Even when we are singing praises in His name, are we singing with all our heart, or are we just reciting the word without considering about the meaning? To constantly commit to using our voice to provide glory to God’s name is a sacrifice of praise to God. Galatians 6:10 (ESV): So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. The next two are examples of sacrifices you make for others in the name of Christ. When we find ourselves with the opportunity to help someone in need, we are encouraged to make that sacrifice. We see the consequence of someone unwilling to do so when we look at the parable of the Sheep and Goat. Jesus said how we treat the least among us is how we treat Him (Matthew 25:45). So when someone calls you because they need help moving, think of it as if Jesus were asking for your help. The second example is the sacrifice of “obeying your leaders and submitting to them”. To submit to anyone requires a touch of patience and a lot of humility. You must be humble in your interaction and respect their wishes more than your own. Keep in mind that sacrifices are not easy (that is what makes them sacrifices), but it does not mean that they are impossible. Stay focused on pleasing God and everything else will take care of itself.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. Jehovah comforts all Christians whenever they find themselves in a difficult situation. Whether you are dealing with financial, personal, or professional (or a combination of them all) issues, know that God is there to comfort you. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV): Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Like other gifts that God affords us, He expects us to follow His pattern when interacting with others. Scripture shows the manner in which we judge others, we will also be judged (Matthew 7:1-6). We also see the manner in which we forgive others, we will be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15). Because God comforts us, He expects us to comfort others in their time of need. Just as with the gift of forgiveness, God gives so much to us that we should feel compelled to share that gift with others. Romans 12:14-21 (NKJV): Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. You will notice in Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he did not qualify who Christians were supposed to comfort. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul reiterates in his letter to the church in Rome that Christians are expected to comfort everyone (even those who persecute them). Christians are commanded to never repay evil with evil, but to always repay evil with good. This task is too much for any person to endure on their own, but if you lean on God, you will find it easier than you think. A humble heart will remember Jesus Christ forgave and endured more for you than you will ever endure for others. A humble heart will also acknowledge you do not have the ability to provide as great of a benefit as God does. Christians can only forgive in the sense that they can show mercy to others when they are wronged. We do not have the ability to wipe away sins as the forgiveness of Jesus Christ does. In the end, our comfort requires much less effort and provides a much smaller benefit than God’s comfort. Therefore, remain humble and understand the gifts that God showers on you, you should shower on others in His name.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr When looking at the law of the Old Testament, I am sometimes overwhelmed by all the laws the Israelites had to live under to remain holy. Even with all the burnt offerings, tithes, and food restrictions, the sins of the Jews were not forgiven. The best their imperfect sacrifices could produce was pushing their sins forward one more year. In the New Covenant, Christians are fortunate to have the perfect sacrifice. As a result, we are able to have our sins forgiven (completely removed). Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. An additional benefit of being under the New Covenant is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Once you receive the Holy Spirit through baptism, you commit to living a different life. Scripture says we put to death our old fruits of the earth (“fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry”) when we take on the life of becoming a Christian. 1 Timothy 1:9-10 (ESV): understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, When you live the life of a Christian and exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in your daily interactions, you have overcome the law. The law is not to condemn the acts of the righteous, but to highlight the misdeeds of the “lawless and disobedient”. When Paul says, “against such things there is no law”, he is letting us know we can free ourselves from the law’s punishment. We may not always think of living within the confines of certain rules as freedom, but that is because some laws of the world are unjust and unreasonable. However, the law of God is holy and righteous. So by living within the commandments of God, you will live a peaceful and content life. Among the many differences between God and man, God’s desire is for all to be saved. Everything He has done and will continue to do is to provide an opportunity for the lost to find their way back home. It is in our best interest to listen and obey the will of God. Who would not want to live a life filled with, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”? How many times has your life improved because you exhibited one of these traits in a bad situation? We all want love, joy, and peace from our live, but do we give, “patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness”, and “self-control”? All of the gifts of Holy Spirit will improve our quality of life. Some will come in the way we are treated by others, but others will come as a result of how we treat others. By focusing on God and walking the path of righteousness, we will continue to be free of the law and receive the many blessings that come as a result.
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Dean Road
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