Loving One Another

Today I had a wonderful opportunity to judge a barbecue-cooking contest in our town of Perkins. I judged the chicken, pulled pork, and brisket. I was also able to share this time with a deacon from our church. I treasure moments that I get to share with other godly men. It wasn’t that I only got to taste great barbecue, but I got to spend some time laughing, checking out how the smokers were built, and discussing things with a man I have come to love and respect in my first year at Immanuel. In other words, we shared our lives with each other.

When we had judged some entries I did a quick peek to see how he was judging some of the stuff we tasted. I noticed that he gave high marks to food that I gave low marks to and I gave high marks to ones he gave low marks to. We just looked at each other and laughed. Wow, can you believe that two Baptists did not agree! Afterwards we sat and talked over a couple cokes about life, church, and dreaming of what God has in store for us in making disciples.

One thing I have discovered in this journey is that the Lord has given us to each other. As the saying goes, life is too short to get hung up on the minors. We are to support, encourage, and love one another even in our failures.

Prov 27:17 As iron sharpens iron,So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. NKJV

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." NKJV

Personally, I believe that Jesus knew the day I would be born. He knew when I would commit my first sin and every sin there after. Even in spite of my sin nature and rebellion towards Him, He showed the greatest form of love anyone could reveal to an enemy. He died for my sins and with stood the wrath I so deserved.

Luke 6:27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, NKJV
Luke 6:36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. NKJV

On July 8th, 1990 the Father showed mercy on this wretched sinner and drew me to His love.
As we have seen in Southern Baptist life, we can focus on the minors and miss the point of why we cooperate. It is a great blessing to serve God in a church that practices unity, but not uniformity. It is by God’s grace that I have abiding and loving fellowship with other Christians. It is only by satan’s schemes that we divide and focus on self and pride. May it be by God’s grace that I submit myself as God’s servant to my fellow Christians.

Eph 5:15-21 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. NKJV