*This is a repost from March 4, 2011.

The other day I told you of a mouse that was caught by a crow.

I ask, “Will I allow Jesus to do whatever He desires to do in my life?”

 

Away from here. by Candy Clonts

Will I allow Jesus to put me in a situation that seem hopeless so that He may be glorified and honored through the suffering He allows in my life?

1 Peter 5:6-11 (NLT) So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. [7] Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.  [8] Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. [9] Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.   [10] In his kindness (grace) God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. [11] All power is his forever and ever. Amen.

1 John 3:13 (NLT) So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

1 John 3:16 (NLT)We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.

1 John 3:18-19 (NLT) Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. [19] It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before the Lord,

1 John 4:11 (NLT) Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

So do you see through these verses how we need our brothers and sisters in the Lord. There is protection there. We need to be aware of our surrounds…places that we put ourselves in. We need to not think that we are self-sufficient and go off across the street and see what is offered there as this little mouse may have been doing.

When we see or know that a brother or sister in Christ is struggling, we need to come along-side and see what the Lord would have us to do. He may have us share scripture or pray with them. He may have us to help in numerous ways…with food, finances….be patient, exhort, rebuke (2 Tim. 4:2), encourage (edify - 1 Thes. 5:11; 1 Tim. 1:4; Eph. 2:29; Rom. 14:19…for just a few), or to restore (to complete thoroughly ie to repair or adjust, to mend – Galatians 6:1-2  (KJV) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. [2] Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:9-10   And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.)

*{There are times that we need to let one that has removed themselves from the flock, because of sin, to let them go. We let them go so that they may see their err and return unto the Lord. Then we restore that one back in to the flock. Sin spreads (leaven). You can read of an instance of this in 1 Cor. 5. and the restoration in 2 Cor. 7:8-11).}

We need one another. Don’t feel like you have to go along in you r walk and journey with Christ alone. You do not. That is why Jesus died on the cross for you so that He may help and have fellowship with you and I. Also God gave us one another. Yes we need to all on each other and we also need to be willing to stick our necks out with and for each other. 

Be willing to give of yourself.

Come with us, we’re her to help you. by Candy Clonts

Galatians 5:13-14
    For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. [14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

1 John 3:16-19 
    Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. [17] But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. [19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.