Don't give up

Holly at The Pastors Family has organized a pastor's family group at yahoo groups. It can be found here at thepastorsfamily.

This group was formed for the encouragement and edification of pastor's families. We are not denominationally oriented, we seek only to uplift each other through prayer. We DO ask that members be able to agree to the tenents of the Apostle's Creed or the Nicene Creeds. This gives us a foundation to agree upon.

So why do I tell you that?

Well.. because I wanted to, and also because it tied in well with what I read today in Galatians Six. In this chapter I read these words:

1Brothers, 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. 2Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5For each will have to bear his own load.

6One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Did you see where it says what we need to do as part of a family?

We are to
- gently restore those who transgress (who are doing stuff they are not supposed to do)
- keep an eye on ourselves that we not be tempted (that we don't do wrong things)
- bear the burdens of others
- not think too much of ourselves
- test what we do
- share good things with those who teach us
- know that what we sow, that we also reap
- not grow tired of doing what is good and right, giving up should not be an option
- do good...especially to other believers.

I read this list and I thought of a couple of things.
1. the encouragement I receive from other people of faith, even from people I scarcely know, and they take time out of their busy days to stop and encourage me! Sometimes via my blog, sometimes just in the course of daily living. People stop and they encourage me to keep on, keeping on. THAT IS SO COOL! and.... very biblical! :) Such a huge blessing that I think that people often forget. :)

2. Finding myself wanting to do the same, to encourage other folks to keep on keeping on, even when they are tired and just want to quit.... giving up is not an option! Consider that what we reap, that we also sow. If we give up.....what are we looking for? God tells us, don't give up. Continue doing good. Continue to help each, bear burdens, entreat the wayward to repentance, and to keep an good eye on what we ourselves are doing.

This weekend my hubby was SO encouraged by the people we visited with after Sunday service. He had a classical appointment in Kingsville, some 2.5 hours away from us. Such a seemingly small thing they did. First they invited us for coffee after church...Flo was a wonderful hostess...let me wander and snoop throughout her house. We had a nice visit talking about a whole host of things.

Then after luncheon, as we were preparing to head off, they stopped and PRAYED with us/for us before we left. Just so cool. Jim wasn't asked to pray, they just up and offered prayer for us before we left. Such a small thing, but what a huge encouragement to my hubbie and me.

So let's go out and do likewise. Let's find small ways that we can encouragement, and gently lead others to repentance, and show the world what Christian family is all about. Wouldn't it be neat if we all did that? Just imagine what God would do! :)