People who always let you know how wrong you are.

Have you been trying to become more like Christ, but met that one person who's always a hammer in search of a nail? You probably know what I'm talking about: they know EVERYTHING that you're doing wrong and will always let you know about how wrong you are in God's eyes and what little thing is indubitably sending you to hell if you don't conform. They're always the stick and never the carrot, so don't expect any "attaboys" from them, because they're there to refine you as with fire. Those people are an example that there is a difference between doing God's work and doing God's job. In 1 Cor 4, Paul wrote,

"Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God....so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other."

We are to be known by our love for one another, which does include reproof and correction, but not done in such a manner that we always beat down and never build up. Furthermore, we should be very careful in pronouncing eternal judgement on our brothers and sisters. We labor for the harvest, but do not replace God as the adjudicator of the eternal soul of man.

Help people get past the past.

"Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past." (Is 43:18) People will make mistakes. Perhaps they're terrible mistakes—maybe you know someone who has cheated on a spouse in the past, even. 

People cannot effectively overcome if we remember them as they once were; if we keep them trapped in the past. Imagine if we only saw Christ dying on the cross and never admitted that YES, He rose from the grave. Let's be like God, who said, "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Heb 8:12) 

Help people get past the past. Don't keep them stuck in their past mistakes.

The carrot or the stick? Should we beat people into spiritual health?

If you really lay into someone about their sin, they should come around, right? Let 'em have it about their transgressions? God says that we should be,

"With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition...and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will." (2 Tim 2)

When we attack someone for their sins, we put them on the defensive. The fight-or-flight response kicks in. Catecholamine hormones, such as adrenaline  or noradrenaline , facilitate immediate physical reactions associated with a preparation for violent muscular action.  Our digestive systems shut down, along with the parts of our brain associated with cognitive deliberation. We lose the ability to calmly reason. In effect, we truly lose our senses. 

Someone trapped in sin doesn't need to be attacked. They need our gentleness and patience, which can help them come to their senses and reason together, which is what God wants. (Isaiah 1:18)

What do we do if a brother or sister in Christ is living a life in open rebellion to God's Word?

What do we do if a brother or sister in Christ is living a life in open rebellion to God's Word? I heard one preacher say, "Just be nice. You can't disconnect a trailer that's not connected in the first place." Another said that we need to "get rid" of such people to "purify the church." Another favored putting them in minor leadership positions to encourage them. So what is God's advice? Check out 1 Thess 3:14-15:

"If anyone does not obey[...] take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

God recommends a form of ostracism so that it might produce shame and repentance on the part of the one in open rebellion, and thus result in his restoration. Sounds harsh, huh? No leading an assembly for sure, and definitely some disconnecting of the trailer from the truck! But the goal is RESTORATION. The goal is to admonish, which means to "instruct through warning."

And above all, we have to love them, and cherish them as our family. We have to wish for their success. If should grieve us to see them struggling with sin; it should hurt to limit association. Our hearts should be pained, not poisoned.

Dr. Wilson or: Cancer's Bad!

A doctor can't assist or help someone with cancer unless he confronts his patient with the unwelcome reality of the disease. Christians can't assist someone with sin (spiritual cancer) unless they have an initial confrontation; but at the same time, we have to keep in mind that we're not adversaries. In fact, we are required by God to admonish one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says, 

“We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 

The word for "admonish" means to offer instruction through warning. "You do have cancer, but we can fix it." Would you? Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says of admonishment, "The difference between 'admonish' and 'teach' seems to be that, whereas the former has mainly in view the things that are wrong and call for warning, the latter has to do chiefly with the impartation of positive truth." 

Cancer's ugly. Doctors don't like telling people that they have it. But it's the first step to assistance. 

Rattlesnakes and salvation.

Want an antivenin for the Serpent's poison? In Luke 4:13, Satan kept trying his tricks with Jesus, but he failed, so 'he left Him until an opportune time." Notice that Satan is looking for opportunities. Have you ever failed again and again? Seen a brother or sister who keeps failing? Let's talk about our part in giving Satan opportunity, and what we can do about it.

Here it is again, opportunity for Satan: "For you brothers were called to freedom, but not the freedom for an opportunity to the flesh. Rather, serve one another through love." (2 Cor 5:17)  Ah ha! It's the counteragent to sin and letting Satan win, and it's serving one another through love!

Something so simple? Can it be? Yep! If you're busy studying with the lost, you won't be out DUI driving. If you're taking your brothers and sisters in Christ on a hike, you won't be getting an STD with someone you met at a bar. Jesus' entire life was characterized by service, and He was perfect. Are you ready and willing to serve? 

My past will never define me.

For a long time I've tried to figure out why I went from spiritually lazy to spiritually working; from feeling safe in sin to toppling those titans. To this day, I can't really figure it out. I want to. I want to have a magic key to fixing people, to helping them overcome when they're stuck in bad habits. "Poof—you'll never drive drunk again! Poof—you won't be sleeping around anymore! Poof—your explosive anger is gone!" 

But I don't. it seems that I didn't change until my heart desired it, and then it was God who caused the growth.  And getting someone's heart to change—I am no good at that. I wish I were. But I think I have a solution that works, if I could convince people to try it. Hebrews 10:24-25 says,

"Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

For a long time, I hid my facebook, or sections of it, from my brothers and sisters in Christ—I even preemptively blocked them from seeing me, or from seeing lots of my posts. Who wants to show off evil to those who are good?  I didn't want to be in anyone's spiritual high beams, because man, I was pretty popular with the world, and that felt good.  

My life was a formula designed to cheat God's system: I'd keep my bad behavior, but show up to assembly enough that no one could say that I wasn't a participant. And I'd know a LOT about the Bible, so you couldn't say I could be destroyed for a lack of knowledge. I'd even show up to some functions outside of Sunday and make a good showing of it all.  Man, just look at the pictures! I'd be in them. That's my alibi. 

But if you ever checked my facebook, you'd see that I was definitely a friend of the world.

In the end, my conscience drove me to the breaking point. It was a little twinge I was ignoring, but it grew and grew.  I saw so many saints doing so much good, and I realized that I was trying to slide in to home plate—almost tagged out, but still saved. Saved by a technicality. 

But that conscience I mentioned...it got kicked from the backburner into overdrive. I met a girl who wasn't really a Christian, but who was really sweet. She had plenty of worldly habits and thought the world of me—or rather, because of my formulaic way of living, she saw me as ultra-Christlike. I knew the Bible inside out. I didn't cuss or drink. I was great with dirty jokes, but those were just funny...not serious. I was a breath of fresh air. But in that air was an odorless poison.

This girl liked to drink a lot, and it didn't help out her life at all—but I never said anything about her bar habits. I got to know her and her kid, and I started having feelings of attachment for them. For perhaps the second time ever I said, "Ok, this girl isn't on track for heaven...I guess I have to do something." But I wasn't committed. My formula was just that: technical schematics that could never change a person's heart. They were soulless criteria for getting what I wanted, not anything from a heart that ached to serve God ever better.

And because of that, I presented a truth devoid of love. It was like saying, "Here, drink this water, it'll help you live," but all the while, I was an oil slick on top of it, making her sick of the water. If I was such a saint, why did I hide so much on facebook? Why did I put such low priority on studying the Bible?  Why did I only assemble the bare minimum—Sunday evening only, because it's shorter? 

God says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another," (Jn 13:35), and deep down, all men recognize this. And deep down, the girl recognized me as a fraud. So was she, being a Christian in name only, but it meant that I couldn't reach her. I couldn't cause a desire for her to change.  We split ways. She went deeper into drinking and the world, and I went into sadness and despair.  I had finally realized that I'd hurt someone—spiritually. Blown a chance to make a disciple of Christ.


It hurt. I decided to start getting involved with the saints. The "assembling" that's mentioned in Hebrews is way more than just Sundays, by the way, because the early church associated daily. In Acts 2:46 we see that Christians met daily. "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts."

Changing your associates is one of the best way to change YOU. If you're not growing, start being around your brothers and sisters in Christ more—it can lead to explosive growth.  I had to start forcing myself to be with my brothers and sisters, to expose myself to the light.  When I did, it made me change my bad habits. I had to get rid of them. And the void that was left had to be filled with something—so I started filling it with what my brothers and sisters were doing. I started studying the Bible. I started teaching others. And the more I did, the more I loved it. And the more I saw results, the more I realized God's plan worked. And the more I saw His plan working, the more I worshiped (submitted to Him) in Spirit. 

But the thing that sometimes makes me sad is that, even knowing what can work, and what has worked, I can't force anyone to try it. I can't force anyone to desire it.  It took the painful realization that I was ultimately a failure—and a failure that put others in spiritual danger—before I woke up.  I had to recognize that God was right when He says, "For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries." (1 Pet 4:3) I had to realize that I'd hurt someone who had cared for me, and for whom I reciprocated that affection.

Even more than that, I had to open myself up to criticism. I couldn't just keep calling people meanies when they called me out. I had to say, 

"Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;

let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;

let my head not refuse it."

(Psalm 141:5)

But perhaps, just perhaps, I can encourage people to wish for the label of, "overwhelming conqueror in all things," to be known as one who topples the titans of sin, who says, "My past will never define me, but this day and every day I shall excel still more."  That's my prayer at least. I know that I can encourage. I can be kind. I can be honest. Paul said, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth."  I can plant. I can water. And I can pray for God to cause the growth. 

I praise God every day that He helped me examine myself, and find myself wanting. And I praise Him for helping me grow. In the past. In the present. And boundlessly in the future. 

Sleeping dogs.

Do you ever see a Christian doing something that's spiritually damaging to themselves and others, but saying anything seems tough? Often it's honestly easier to just leave your brother or sister alone and not go through confrontation, because it'll all come out in the wash, anyway, right?

Although it's tough to hear, such inaction is one of the reasons Israel fell. "His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber." (Is 56:10) Often we fear the unknown, and the conflict inherent with addressing sin has unknown outcomes: will he/she hate me? Will I be loving enough? What would I want for me?

REMEMBER, even though it's tough, "He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." Make sure your motives are love and kindness, not just condemnation and outrage, because "the kindness of God leads you to repentance." (James 5:20; Rom 2:4)

If you can't forgive or forget, pick one.

Are you good at record keeping? Have you ever had a falling out with someone? Maybe it was ages ago, but you still don't talk? Maybe it was SUPER-SERIOUS FACEBOOK OFFICIAL and you even blocked them for whatever reason and thought, "Aha, me and Mark Zuckerberg will teach 'em!?" 

God said love "keeps no record of wrongs." When will you tear up that record and start fresh? After all, the second greatest command is to, "love your neighbor as yourself.’" (1 Cor 13 & Mark 12)  

Settling differences.

Ever had a brother or sister in Christ who you just KNOW ain't livin' up to expectations? Time to give 'em an earful! Especially if it's affronted you!

Galatians 6:1 says, "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."

Our goal must not be punishment, but restoration, and not with the fierce wrath of a volcano, but rather in gentleness. I lack this, but I'm getting better daily. One last thing: that brother or sister out indulging in the world...is caught in something very, very addictive. Be very careful lest you get caught up in the same sin. 

Becoming Someone Different

BQ: I knew of a Christian who became involved in promiscuity and drinking, and just had a hard time assembling with the saints. He got away from frequenting bars, yet still found himself at a bar as often as at assembly.

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation...For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!" (II Corinthians 7:10-11)

Sometimes it can be hard to shake the image of sin from us, but to start, we have to make radical changes.  If we used to go the the bar three times a week, and got drunk every day, we can't allow ourselves to "just go to the bar once a week." The change has to be so radical that someone meeting us today would never know that we'd ever been like that at all.  

How to Prevent a Tsunami of Bitterness or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love.

BQ:  What should you do if you feel yourself becoming upset with someone? Proverbs 17:14 says, "The beginning of strife is like releasing water;  Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts."

Don't even let that floodgate open. Once it does, the angry words that surge out erode the walls of a good relationship, leaving lasting scars. When I feel like I'm being hurt, I go to Luke 6:28, which says, "bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." When I'm praying for the good of someone, I find that I can't get angry. If possible, I try to have them pray with me.

BQ: Have you ever had a brother or sister in Christ that you couldn't stand? That feeling isn't good, but it is a blessing because it's like a klaxon going off to warn you that your spiritual health is damaged. 1 John 2:11 explains, "But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

While an unkindness may cause you to feel anger in response, God tells us, "Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath." (Eph 4:26) Don't let a feeling of quick anger be anything more than that. Put a damper on it immediately, and focus on walking in the light with whoever has hurt you, so that you don't end up by yourself in the darkness.

BQ: Have you ever called someone a bad name? Told them to go to hell? The second we let that bitterness toward a person exist, God isn't even interested in us trying to follow Him in other ways—not until we fix the flaw of inner hatred.. Instead, he tells us,

"Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Mt 5:22-24) 

If you have a brother or sister that you're not reconciled with, don't let it ride. Give your best effort to love them. Suck up your pride and be kind. You might not win your brother, but you will have tried your hardest, and you will be able to say that Romans 12:18 applies to you. "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."

Spiritual Mathematics: The Sin Wave.

BQ:  Have you ever seen a sin/sine wave? It's something in math that looks like the attached picture above.



Notice that there are ups and downs, but the average value is zero.

This can happen in the lives of Christians, too. They cycle between the world and Christ, bouncing back and forth, which results in an average growth of...none at all. Stagnancy.

In order for us to claim that we have a personal struggle with sin, we have to actually be fighting it.  If we don't, there's no struggle involved. How do we begin to get out of this endless wave of horror?

1 John 1:9  helps us begin saying, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

BQ: In order to get out of a stagnant cycle where we're run between Christ and the world seemingly ceaselessly, we first have to confess our sins. This is deeper than just saying, "I have an issue." In fact, it's taking a full-on look at exactly where we are...and also exactly what we're doing to get out of that place.

Without that, we often slip back into the mindset of, "Well I sinned really, really bad, God's grace is there again."  This is a very true statement, but it lets in the subtle notion that we can sin all the more, and grace will simply increase, which God doesn't want us to have. 

You see, God doesn't want us to say, "This is something that I just can't beat." He doesn't want us to say, "Well for this issue, I'm just always going to need a bucket of grace, because I can't kick it."

NO! God wants us to say, ""No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." (I Corinthians 10:13).

BQ: You see, God does not want us to have the attitude of someone who has been conquered by some sin that we can't overcome. He doesn't want us to accept a sin wave as the ultimate reality of our existence!  In fact, He wants us to know that such a stagnant thing can kill us, and warns us in James 1:14-15 saying,

"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death!"

If you let the poison of the world keep coursing through your veins, eventually that sin wave will not even be a wave anymore, but will accomplish death! That's why God not only said verses 14-15, but with 16 warned us, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethern!" 





BQ: We can't let Satan deceive us into thinking that we've tried our hardest and it wasn't enough. If we've tried hard by ourselves and can't shake some sin, it's time to enlist a brother or sister in helping! Alcoholics Anonymous uses a buddy system, so that when you're struggling, you can call on someone else to help you shake it.

We can't be too proud to do the same! Instead of pushing away those who would help and hiding our sin, we need to not only admit it, as God says, but to pester a brother or sister to help us put distance between that darkness and ourselves! 

DON'T HIDE YOUR PROBLEMS! DON'T TRY TO FIGHT IT ALONE! Ecclesiastes 4:12 begs us, saying, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

If you try to go lone-wolf, the world may overpower you. And if you're already in a sin wave, the fact is, you're already overpowered, because that which is not growing, is ultimately dying. Enlist a brother or sister to help defend against Satan!






BQ: God tells us, "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

When we're stuck in a sin wave, that help that God provides comes from multiple places, but much of it is from our brothers and sisters. There is a spiritual war going on, and Satan is a supernatural evil who has only lost once. But that failure was utter and complete, and now God has made us "an exceedingly great army." (Eze 37:10)

To all of my spiritual family, there is a horrible war going on, and we are part of an army of magnitude. But if we decide to run off onto the battlefield alone, without all of that power going with us, Satan will win.

If you are struggling, reach out to your brothers and sisters. Apply the sword of truth to yourself.  Removing cancer is never fun, and often painful, but we have the best physician with the best helper and the best support group. Embrace them. Embrace life. Embrace a trajectory that is ever upward. 


"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) He has overcome, and so can we.

Hurt for trying to help?

BQ: Sometimes, people who are spiritually sick will even lash out at you and hurt you when you want to help. If you've seen a trapped, injured animal, this is common when you're trying only to release them from something which is killing them. Do you give up and let Satan take all the way over?

Luke 11:5-8 has a take on a situation in a different light, but the concept is sound. A man goes to someone's house at midnight to ask for a meal for a traveler, and the following happens:

‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs."

Without persistence, nothing good will be accomplished.  If you want to free someone, you need to never give up. 






BQ: I mentioned that people suffering from sin will also lash out when you try to help them. God knows this, and that's why he describes those as suffering from sin as in 2 Pet 2:20-22,

"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.  It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit.”

And in verse 12, He wrote, "But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed..."

When we're enslaved to sin, we can be like unreasoning animals, lashing out at those who help. But in sin, we indulge the flesh, fornicating, drinking in great excess, and never stopping, much as animals do. 






BQ: We saw that in helping free someone from sin, we can accomplish nothing if we decide that, well, we have to give up. 

In Deut 31:6, God said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

When people you're trying to help hurt you for your efforts, don't be afraid of them, and don't get caught up in the cruelty. But at the same time, God refuses to leave and forsake us, so do not totally write the injured off. 





BQ: When you try to help someone who is spiritually ailing, it's not always sugar and spice and everything nice. Sometimes a person will instead turn on you and tear you down.  

Is this anything new?

No. Jesus came and was perfect, the embodiment of love. For that, He was crucified. We, too, have to expect backlash every now and then, and like Jesus, even from people who at first profess their love for us. 

What do you do if that happens?

A good example is from Acts 16 with Paul and Silas. A crowd of those Paul and Silas wanted to help instead rose up against them, and they were beaten and thrown in prison. Sometimes, when a friend hurts you, you'll feel like this emotionally. I love the response from both Paul and Silas, though, who after this happened, "were praying and singing hymns of praise to God." (Acts 16:25)

When you've been hurt, giving some praise to God with a brother or sister, studying the Bible, and dwelling on Him really help. It always helps me.  I am blessed to know many who build me up when I'm down. Having a spiritual support network is better than anything the world could ever offer. 




BQ: When helping a friend out of sin, it can hurt that individual. They can feel bashed or embarrassed.  Do not say, "You bad person, you! You're a liar and nothing but," but rather, "You're a great person who needs help fixing this issue. Let's work on it together."

The writer of Hebrews came down pretty hard on the audience of the letter for their flaws, but in Hebrews 6:9 said, "But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way." 

We have to make it clear that, though we are speaking in this way, that we are convinced of the excellence within them.

As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her sons.

With thanks to Rio and Miriam, about something that has been on my mind.

I have personally watched Christian friends slip into the world, committing both spiritual suicide with themselves, and spiritual murder with the things they did with others, and encouraged others to do. And those times have been the most painful of my life, bar none.  And those times have been the most painful of my life, bar none. A lot of that pain comes from the pain of knowing what I've been, and the damage I've caused in the past.

Even if you don't personally like the person that much, the pain is devastating, because there is nothing you can do.  You cannot be the conscience for someone who wants his or her conscience to be seared.  Often, these people will apply a veneer of godliness, so that they can look at their fake reality and call it real, but the poison runs deep and is killing them.

What do you do? Do you delete such a person from your life? Do you utterly abandon them?  

I have often done that. I don't think it's right. It was my selfish way of protecting myself from pain. I once encouraged my mother and sister to abandon someone who caused them great pain and tears. They refused.  Instead of letting the person simply get off easy, they were loving but also truthful.  Their efforts were met seemingly forever with rejection and cruelty.

And yet God says, "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!" (Psalms 126:5)

Who wants to sow a field with such effort that it causes them to cry? Isn't it easier to just abandon that plot and more on to easier territory? 

My sister and mom didn't. They sowed in tears. Eventually, the person they loved changed. Hard times came. Rock bottom was hit. This person was abandoned. And suddenly, the person realized that through everything she had done, despite the evil of it, two people were still compassionate. Compassionate despite the way they'd been treated. And indeed, none of the person's actions had been more than passing pleasure.  And in the end, my mother and sister reaped with joyful shouting.

Compare that with two of my own examples. Both times, I saw someone reverting back to their old friends and old ways, including drinking. Both times, I said, "That hurts me and is repulsive behavior. You're otta' my life."  And both these people, now, are fully surrounded by the world, molded into it as a part of it, horrifically deep.  Attempts by me now to say, "Hey, I care about you," have no weight behind them. Because I gave up. Instead of being loving but correcting, I threw away anything, including hope, no matter how small.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." 

Are you like that? If you persist in love, will you not remain green? Are you afraid of the pain, and willing to wilt away from hope and caring? There is only one way to bear fruit, and it is through persistence. 

Sometimes, however, when you are persistent, people will reject you. It happens. As my friend Rio once told me as a wake-up call, and this is paraphrased "Sometimes nothing you do can reach people, and you'll be consumed."  You have to know when that point is, but you can also make the conscious decision to not simply and utterly reject them.

The truth with the person struggling is that we do not know if they will be overcome, or shall overcome.  We cannot make the call with their struggles, or with their future.  We cannot condemn their hearts, but can see their difficulties. 

And more importantly, sometimes people have to hit utter rock bottom. They have to be at the lowest, where the sun does not shine, before they decide they don't want to be in the pit. 

God tells us that a struggle is present, and that it shall not come without weeping. For our struggles, for our help, and for the struggles of others, it is often true that much pain must be endured before we conquer. 

In Isaiah 66:8, God confirms this and says, "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons."

New birth does not come without pain and persistence, but we have to maintain the hope of beautiful things to come. We must have the attitude that we would, "could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." (Romans 9:3)

And if you're sad, hurt, and damaged, remember, "Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD." (Proverbs 16:20)  When you're feeling darkest and down in the dumps, dwell even stronger in the Word.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

The Barnabases among us.

BQ:  Acts 9 describes how Saul of Tarsus, after his experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus, was trying to associate with Christians. He had a tough go of it, since Christians avoided him like the plague—after all, he'd been murdering them. Let's read Acts 9:26-27 and see who helped him:

"When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus."

Everyone knows a ton about Paul in the New Testament, but sometimes we gloss over what we view as "lesser" characters. Above, we saw that Barnabas was a very forgiving, kind, and, in his own fashion, brave man. What do you know about Barnabas? Over the next few days, we'll learn more about this awesome man.





BQ: Yesterday we saw that Paul was alone after his conversion, but Barnabas gave him a second chance and trusted him. Paul was always a fiery individual. Let's read Acts 15:36-41 and see some more about the character of Paul and Barnabas:

"After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”  Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.  But Paul chose Silas and left."

Here we see that Paul was very upset over a past wrongdoing, and not willing to put up with a chance of a relapse on the part of John Mark. Ignoring that, though, look at what it reveals about Barnabas. When Paul was looking to overcome his horrible past, Barnabas came to him and helped him when no others world.    Barnabas, we can see, is a very loving, caring, kind, forgiving, and patient. 





BQ: We've seen that Barnabas was very courageous and willing to give people second chances. When Paul wanted to join the Christians, Barnabas was the one who was willing to help him out. When John Mark wanted to re-join after his defection, Barnabas gave him another chance. 

We can learn a lot more about Barnabas, who was an exceptional individual. We really first encounter him in Acts 4:36-37, which says, "Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet."

Barnabas was not only forgiving, but giving as well, and a son of encouragement.  What we can also tell is that people of various personalities can do great things for God. Paul was also an awesome man, but not at all like Barnabas, yet they are both given recognition for helping people. 






BQ: Barnabas, we know, was encouraging, giving, forgiving, and willing to take risks to help people. We've also seen that, even in assemblies, a great person might have a sharp disagreement with you over something, as Paul did with Barnabas in regards to keeping John Mark around.  What can we learn from this?

One thing is to not let this hurt our self-worth.  No matter what Paul felt about Barnabas, Barnabas was still known as the Son of Encouragement. Also, disagreements aren't a reason to think poorly of the other person. Just like with Paul and Barnabas, we each serve a different purpose. Paul reached people that Barnabas didn't, and Barnabas reached people that Paul didn't. :) Don't let a squabble damage your ability to serve!




BQ: There's a lot to know about Barnabas. We've seen that, in many ways, he was simply a very kind and giving man. Acts 11:22-26 really highlights the need for people like him.

"They sent Barnabas off to Antioch.  Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;  for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;  and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."

Barnabas is called a good man, and fully of the Holy Spirit and faith. His attitude is one of rejoicing and, as was his nature, encouragement. More than that, he was steadfast and resolute, and he brought many people to God. Barnabas also wasn't one to hog the limelight, but when he saw opportunity, he went to find Paul to help out! In fact, where Barnabas was teaching for an entire year was the first time we saw people being called Christians.

While certain people in the Bible get more attention than others, lesser-known individuals like Barnabas are just as important. :)  What can you learn from him?

Forgetting the past.

BQ: I have often had a bad habit of dredging up the past when I'm upset with my loved ones. Have you ever done that? God makes a point of reminding us that holding someone's past against them isn't loving when he tells us love, " keeps no record of wrongs." (1 Cor 3:5) 

Don't keep those old, nasty records of what your loved ones have done wrong, and remind them that they don't need to think of themselves like that, either! :)




BQ: This goes along with yesterday's devotional. When we're young, we tend to make a lot of mistakes. I love David's prayer which said,

"Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

According to Your lovingkindness remember me,

For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord."

Do the same with everyone you know, because often people think very little of themselves based on their pasts. :) "A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression." (Proverbs 19:1) 

Restoring someone.

Restoring someone.
BQ: Have you ever been upset when someone's let you or others down? When someone has failed at some task? One battle I personally have is with taking failure critically, both in myself and in others. It's something that's completely unattractive and I seriously need to work on it.

When it comes to doing things which aren't morally upright, it can be tempting to use righteousness as some sort of hammer. The thing is, it's impossible to bang out sin in someone. They have to want to
remove it.

"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" is written in Galatians 6:1-2.Matthew 18:21-22 says, ""Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

When someone falls, we need to help them up. Isn't that what you'd want for yourself? Helping someone up, however, does require that we acknowledge that they indeed have fallen. We can't just ignore it, or they'll never be restored. At the same time, we don't kick them when they're down, or yank at them furiously.

Remember, you can never fix a broken item by destroying it. Let's gently restore those who have fallen, and remember how we'd like to be treated ourselves.
(PN2)