Let's Give a Great Big Hand

John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus responded that it is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and that the second greatest is to Love your Neighbor as Yourself."   

He said that all of the other commandments hang on these two commands.

If you love your neighbor as yourself, that means you don't put yourself above anyone else.  We all take care of ourselves.  It is natural to eat when we are hungry.  It is natural to put on a coat when we are cold.  It is natural to rest when we are tired.  That is the way we take care of ourselves.   When our neighbor is hungry, what should we do?   When our neighbor is cold, what should we do?  When our neighbor is tired, what should we do?  

Love is not always a word the describes emotion, it is also an action word in many cases.  This is one of them.

If someone has a need, it is important to pray for them.  It is even important to tell them that you are praying for them.  By praying we are agreeing with God in the plan that He has to take care of their needs.   The next step, however, is to try to determine what God's plan is for you in this situation and whether it involves us being the giver of that care.  We pray to ask God to change our understanding and lead us to be a part of His plan.  Sometimes that means that we Love our Neighbor by following God's leading to practically help.    
     When I was baptized, I remember that the first thing the Pastor asked me was, "Doesn't it feel wonderful to follow God's commands for our lives?"  It does.  When God leads you into a situation to know someone's needs, it is our time to ask God, "Are you leading me to help by giving?"  I am sure that we cannot help every situation we become aware of.   As Christians we must become accustomed to asking and listening for the Holy Spirit to tell us what to do and then do it.  If we are following the plan of God, He will provide the necessary means to fulfill the plan.  We will be blessed as we learn to fulfill God's plan for our own lives.  Doesn't it always feel great to help someone?  That in itself is part of the blessing.  I do not subscribe to the teaching that we should give so that we will be given material things in return from God.   I do believe that seeking and acting upon God's plan in our lives creates a deeper relationship with Him and that is always a blessing. 
     When we see our neighbor is hungry, we love them by giving them food.  When we see our neighbor is cold, we love them be giving them a coat.  When we see that our neighbor is tired, we love them by helping and giving them rest.  When we see that our neighbor is lonely, we love them by spending time with them.  

This is such a simple lesson to understand and such a difficult one to put into practice.  
Do we ask the question "What if I don't have enough food to share?"  If it is in His plan, He can feed the 5,000 with loaves and a few fish. (Mark 6:30-44)   "What if I don't have clothes to spare?"  Didn't the Israelites spend years in the desert with clothes that never wore out? (Deut 8:4)   What if I am too tired to help them?  We are reminded that those who wait upon the Lord, (follow His Leading) will renew their strength, will run and not grow weary, will walk and not grow faint. Psalm 40:31

Take Action when you see a need. Pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Gal. 6:9-10

It May be Dark, but it's Not Too Late

It's not too late.  It's not a lost cause. It's not hopeless.  It's not too far gone. 

     When we are in a relationship with someone, not matter what kind, it often seems like there is no way to repair the damage when the relationship is broken.  Marriages end, children are estranged from parents for decades, and people die having never restored themselves to each other.  We see this so often that we believe that all relationships are like that.  That is not true.
     First of all, most relationships that are broken and not repaired are that way because one side or the other refuses to restore the relationship.  It may be out of anger or the feeling that a restored relationship will only bring a return of the problem that began the rift in the first place.  In order for a relationship to be restored, there has to be several changes.  A change must come in the situation and a change must come in the mind and heart of those in the relationship.
     The situation could be an argument that resulted in statements being made that established hurt feelings or a refusal to associate with the other.  The situation could be a stance on an issue that is outside the bounds of one person's acceptable living limits.  The situations are usually real problems, but are not always unchangeable.
     The other change takes place in the heart of those involved.  We have to be willing to listen and understand.  Possibly a misunderstanding has taken place and can be corrected.  Possibly the situation is exactly as it was originally understood and a change in the situation must occur.  Then a decision can be made as to whether the relationship is worth the surrender of the stand we have taken.  
     All of these scenarios involve an evaluation of something we hold dear, our control.  Our ability to decide what we want.  Sometimes that is the source of our broken relationship. 

There is one relationship, however that has a different set of rules.  Our relationship with God.  When there is something wrong with our relationship with God, it is easy to figure out where the change needs to happen.  Why do I say this?   
God never changes.  



Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

God is never unfair. He is perfectly just based on the way He designed the universe. He made the rules.

No matter how much we want to have a say in it, they are already set and do not change.


God always forgives someone who honestly asks Him for forgiveness. No matter what it is. But we have to be the ones to change. We have to REPENT or change our ways and ask him to forgive us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9


God has already sacrificed in an order to restore the relationship.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8


Whether we are spending our lives not in a relationship with God because of anger or because we feel unworthy or because we are in a situation that is against God's universe, the fault is not God's. We can be consumed with the desire to control our own choices, but ultimately they must align with God.


We must confess that Jesus is Lord of all including us. We must recognize Him and be willing to give up control.


Next we must ask forgiveness and for restoration of the relationship. He has promised to say yes.


"If you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and trust in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."


The relationship is maintained just like most other relationships. Talk together often. Learn everything you can about each other. Choose to do things that improve the relationship whenever you can.


It's not too late.