People helping people who help people

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “God’s power in you and for you”

Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “People helping people who help people”

I’m in a reflective mood this week. On Saturday Aimee and I will celebrate our second wedding. We were married in a small private ceremony on June 29^th but this Saturday, October 18^th, we will have our big barn wedding with family, friends, neighbors, and church family. It’s going to be so much fun! We envision something akin to an Amish event where the entire community of faith comes together in a beautiful country setting to celebrate some significant life event for one of our own. Everybody working together to make it happen, each family brings something to share for the community meal, and it’s a fun and joyous time for everyone. We’re intentionally planning it to be light-hearted, fun, and in some ways, even funny.

But I said I was reflective. I can’t help but recall the events that led up to this time. Before there was a wedding, before there was Aimee and dating and courting, there was the darkest period of my life. My wife, son, and daughter had all died in a relatively short time. I was living alone for the first time in my adult life. I had to work through a long and difficult period of extended grieving. It was very hard. (Aimee had a similar road to walk after her husband Tim died unexpectedly just six months before I lost Linda.)

But my church family was there in big, meaningful, and important ways for me. I was overwhelmed with all the expressions of concern, love, support, and kindness. Once, when I was trying to express my thanks and appreciation to someone, the person made a comment that has stuck with me. He said, “Pastor, you have been doing this same thing for so many other people for almost thirty years as a pastor. We’re just doing for you what you have done for so many others.”

That comment stuck with me and I realized that what was being described was a basic truism of church life – people helping people who help people. What goes around comes around. What you do for others, others will one day do for you. This is Church Life 101. Believers taking care of believers. Brothers and sisters in Christ watching out for and taking care of one another. This is God applying His power in our lives in ways and at times when it is desperately needed, and doing it through His people as they take care of each other.

That’s true during the dark times, but its also true during the good times. That big barn wedding that’s coming up in just three days? We couldn’t do it without the help of the church. It’s amazing how many in our church family have come forward and asked to be allowed to help with planning, and with food, and with setting up and cleaning up, and with a dozen other tasks and details.

How do people navigate life without a good and loving church family? I don’t know. I do know they’re missing something very special. In the church, people help people. That’s just a given in good and healthy church life. You do for them, and they go out of their way to do for you too. It’s evidence of God’s power being manifested in and through the lives of His people.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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