Why do we do this? We look to man for various reasons. Some of the reasons I have heard are he is trained so it's up to him to feed me, it's his calling, that's what we pay him for and I don't have time for that. Sound familiar?
Most likely the average Christian spends very little time nurturing their relationship with God. Relationships must be nurtured to be successful. Our relationship with God must be nurtured if we are to walk in the victory and power God intends for us to have.
We miss out on an intimate relationship with God when we rely on a pastor to do everything for us. No wonder so many feel distant from God. They don't spend time developing their relationship with God. Just think about what you are missing out on.
Think about it, we are reliant on the pastor for many things. For example, we are reliant on the pastor to read and study the Bible for us. We are reliant on the pastor to do the praying that needs to be done. We are reliant on the pastor to visit us when we want him to. We are reliant on the pastor to do the hospital visits. We are reliant on the pastor to invite others to church. If these God called preachers don't live up to our expectations then we gripe, complain, gossip about them to others and are ready to get rid of them and find one who will do what we want them to do when we want them to do it. Talk about unrealistic expectations!
Whatever happened to "the body ministering to the body"? This is a very biblical concept that seems to be forgotten today. I encourage you to check out the "one another" verses in the Bible. It will amaze you to find out what we, as Christians, should be doing.
There are 59 "One Anothers" in the New Testament. Drum roll please...and here they are...
1. “…Be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)
2. “…Wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)
3. “…Love one another…” (John 13:34)
4. “…Love one another…” (John 13:34)
5. “…Love one another…” (John 13:35)
6. “…Love one another…” (John 15:12)
7. “…Love one another” (John 15:17)
8. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…” (Romans 12:10)
9. “…Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
10. “Live in harmony with one another…” (Romans 12:16)
11. “…Love one another…” (Romans 13:8)
12. “…Stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13)
13. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…” (Romans 15:7)
14. “…Instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)
15. “Greet one another with a holy kiss…” (Romans 16:16)
16. “…When you come together to eat, wait for each other.” (I Cor. 11:33)
17. “…Have equal concern for each other.” (I Corinthians 12:25)
18. “…Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (I Corinthians 16:20)
19. “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (II Corinthians 13:12)
20. “…Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
21. “If you keep on biting and devouring each other…you will be destroyed by each other.”
(Galatians 5:15)
22. “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:26)
23. “Carry each other’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2)
24. “…Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)
25. “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32)
26. “…Forgiving each other…” (Ephesians 4:32)
27. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” (Ephesians 5:19)
28. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
29. “…In humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
30. “Do not lie to each other…” (Colossians 3:9)
31. “Bear with each other…” (Colossians 3:13)
32. “…Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” (Colossians 3:13)
33. “Teach…[one another]” (Colossians 3:16)
34. “…Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16)
35. “…Make your love increase and overflow for each other.” (I Thessalonians 3:12)
36. “…Love each other.” (I Thessalonians 4:9)
37. “…Encourage each other…”(I Thessalonians 4:18)
38. “…Encourage each other…” I Thessalonians 5:11)
39. “…Build each other up…” (I Thessalonians 5:11)
40. “Encourage one another daily…” Hebrews 3:13)
41. “…Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)
42. “…Encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)
43. “…Do not slander one another.” (James 4:11)
44. “Don’t grumble against each other…” (James 5:9)
45. “Confess your sins to each other…” (James 5:16)
46. “…Pray for each other.” (James 5:16)
47. “…Love one another deeply, from the heart.” (I Peter 3:8)
48. “…Live in harmony with one another…” (I Peter 3:8)
49. “…Love each other deeply…” (I Peter 4:8)
50. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (I Peter 4:9)
51. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…” (I Peter 4:10)
52. “…Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…”(I Peter 5:5)
53. “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” (I Peter 5:14)
54. “…Love one another.” (I John 3:11)
55. “…Love one another.” (I John 3:23)
56. “…Love one another.” (I John 4:7)
57. “…Love one another.” (I John 4:11)
58. “…Love one another.” (I John 4:12)
59. “…Love one another.” (II John 5)
*From Carl F. George, Prepare Your Church for the Future (Tarrytown: Revell, 1991), 129-131.
We should look outward instead of inward. Its not about "me" and what someone else can do for me. It's a body ministry - where we minister one to another.
Let's be a New Testament church! The church is not confined to a building. Let's think outside the box. How can we minister and reach others? Let's get involved in "one anothering".
Let's be the church God ordained us to be!
Until next time...enjoy the journey!
Ray
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