Encouraging one another- by Grace Harmon

Thanks to Grace Harmon for this post. Grace is a lovely young lady that we met through the GNOM surge in Richmond, Kentucky. Grace has been an encouragement and a blessing to our family. Thanks also to Grace's parents, John and Lisa Harmon, for encouraging their children to serve the Lord, and to live each day in worship of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

If you have something you would like to contribute to "One anothering", please send to cowperthwaitefamily@gmail.com. We welcome comments also, and the Facebook Group gives people the opportunity for open discussion on the discussion boards. Enough of me talking, I hope you enjoy these thoughts on encouraging one another by Grace.

As a child I grew up listening to a song by Steve Green.  "Encourage One Another" was a delightful tune that my sisters and I would sing over and over again.  However, at that time I did not realize that a kids song could apply so well to our daily lives.   


There seems to be much negative talk about other people in the world around us.  We seem to find excitement in laughing at others behind their back, talking people down, and picking at their faults.  Why is this so easy?  Why do I often catch myself laughing at a story that pokes fun at someone else? 


Encouragement in the body of Christ is something that is often lacking, but is vital for a thriving assembly.  2 Thessalonians 5:11  "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." 


Perhaps we could remove the focus off of what makes us feel good, and think of what the Lord Jesus would do.  Romans 15:5 "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus."    


Maybe there is more to this than words.  Perhaps we should "speak" encouragement with our actions.  Looking at Jesus we find Him unselfish with His time.  He reached down and lifted people up out of their sad state.  He spoke truth to the pharisees, but never with the wrong motives or heart. 


If we spent more time finding ways to best help, love, and encourage others, there would be little time to tear them down.  Let's continue to keep our eyes open for ways to build each other up.


- Grace Harmon

Division and conflict- what does the Bible say about how to handle it?

Sadly, there are, at times, struggles among Christians. I wish it were not so, and I believe it grieves the heart of God to see His church fighting among themselves. In considering a recent reading of James 3 and 4, I was led to write this as a means to promote love for one another. Sometimes, to see how we ought to act towards each other, we have to look at the down side of human nature, and how it hinders the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. I pray that we all learn to practice these Biblical principles should conflicts come our way. 


In the matter of division and conflict among believers, we must be careful how we handle ourselves. We ought not to make rush judgments, and not knowing the whole story, we ought to make no judgment at all. If all believers held to the Biblical principles on this matter, we would see much less disunity in the body of Christ. Seeing the example of our Savior, we ought to offer mercy to a weaker brother or sister. Often, misunderstandings are the source of such conflict. Communication is one key to keeping unity, one that is not a strong point in many 21st century churches.

Considering the following passage in Matthew, I would ask if there has been a sin/trespass, or just a misunderstanding that is causing the conflict. Only those involved can discern the truth of their own motives, so let us see what Scripture says on the subject. The Bible standard here should govern our way as believers whose primary goal is to glorify God in all we do and say.

Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. "

Note in this passage that Peter did not say that the brother even repented. He asks how often should he forgive a brother that sins against him. We can forgive a brother, even when he is not repentant. This works wonders in our hearts, and is the example Jesus lived out in His own times of trials and conflict. In the matter of salvation, God offers forgiveness, but one does not gain the personal benefit of forgiveness until we ask for it.  Romans 5 tells us that Christ died for the ungodly, while we were dead in our sins, and forgiveness was offered long before repentance was made.

James 3:13 "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." 

If we can not honestly look at our own lives and actions, and see purity, peace, gentleness, mercy, then even if we feel ourselves to be right, we are still wrong in our motivations. God's wisdom is just what it says here in verse 17, and verse 18 promises us that peace will be the result as we walk in righteousness.

The following verses in James 4 tell us where conflicts and quarrels among us start. Simply from God's Word, we find the root causes. We can not be interested in our own glory, or taking power for ourselves. We must submit one to another in love, serving one another, and especially not to drag private sins out for the world to see. 

There is a place, after certain steps are taken, to bring sin that is unrepented of before the local church, only for the purpose of reconciliation, but never for the world to see. The names of Jesus Christ and God the Father are taken in vain too often, let us not give the unsaved world any reason to bad mouth His people. Truly, even in conflict, are we not brothers? Will we not share eternity in God's presence together? There will be no conflict there, so let us learn how to treat each other.

1Peter 2:19 "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls"

So, what if you are right before God, and still suffer wrongfully? God gives us the answer in this passage. We have our example in Christ Jesus, who did not sin, did not revile in return, did not threaten, and committed His ways to the Father, who is the ultimate Judge. We tend to go astray, and find our own way to deal with persecution, even for righteousness sake. Still, we are commanded to follow in His steps, something not accomplished by man's strength, but only as we walk in the spirit. James 1:19-20 remind us that our anger and wrath accomplishes nothing for the Lord. 

In a recent conversation during jail ministry, I was told that gaining revenge felt good at the time, but the lasting consequences were not pleasurable. It is the same way in the body of Christ. We might, by our own efforts, be able to convince others to be on our side, speaking ill of a brother or sister. We may assault their character, question their motives, and bring them down. But, what does this accomplish, but to divide the body of Christ? Surely, this is not the Christian way.

If we have our eyes on getting revenge and making ourselves look good, we miss the fact that the testimony of an entire local church can be destroyed by our desire to be seen as on the right side, not considering that another blood bought son of God is being dragged through the mud for our benefit. We must be careful how we treat those around us, and how in turn we treat the Lord Jesus Himself.

1Corinthians 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

At times, it is better to take the hit, to be wronged, and keep the name of Jesus Christ out from among the courts and especially the court of public opinion. The world is watching. One of Satan's best tools is to cause strife among Christians, showing their error to the world, and hardening a soul that may be softened to the Spirit's call to come to Christ. If we were to take the time to look at all the past sins in our own lives, we would be reminded that much grace and mercy has been extended toward us by brothers and sisters, and more than that, by a holy, righteous, and just God that has taken our sin-stained rags and given us robes of pure white. Jesus says in Matthew 6 that if we will not forgive others, we will not be forgiven. Let us be careful not to harbor bitterness in our hearts or to have a critical spirit.

1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

We, as Christians, are not our own, but each members of the universal body of Christ. Let us act like it, remembering how much we hurt our Creator God by our own sin. In Christ, we are a temple of God's Holy Spirit, and should reflect the glory of God in all we do and say.  

If we were to look at the situation through God's eyes, could we honestly say that we are not at fault in any way. If there is fault in our lives concerning this, let us reconcile ourselves to the Lord, and seek His face in how to deal with the problems that come our way. 

When we see these Scriptural guidelines, and examine ourselves, I think we will learn more and more to give grace, as none of us are not perfect. I know I am far from perfect, and have learned some of the lessons here the hard way. Some times I have had to repent privately, sometimes publicly. At other times I have had a brother come to me, broken before the Lord and asking forgiveness of me, and at those times we should do nothing less than rejoice that the name of Jesus Christ is exalted, because His children are learning more and more to bear with one another. 

The body is built up in this way, and in time, all wounds can be healed. You do not have to wait for the other party to do the right thing, and we must not harbor bitterness. You can be the one to step up to the plate, and follow the example of Christ. As much as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Even those who treat you wrong. After all, we are the body of Christ.