Look Out For One Another

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Hebrews 12:12-15

We are brothers and sisters in Christ and to Christ (Matthew 12:48-50) - a spiritual family! A good family is a loving family. Our Father is love (1 John 4:8) and we ought to love one another (1 John 4:11).

We need to be caring siblings to one another; siblings who are willing and trying to help each other out. There needs to be a caring and loving attitude that we have for each of God’s children.

It is both the physical and spiritual wellbeing that we should take notice of. We should pray for each other (James 5:16), especially when there are those who are physically weak and ill. After all, in James 5:16 it also says, “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

As a group of Christians, let us look for ways to strengthen one another and encourage one another. Whether there are those who are stumbling and struggling with their spiritual health or not we need to be thinking of one another and encouraging one another.

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Christians should be comforting and encouraging other Christians - edifying and building up one another, so that we each grow stronger and stronger each day. We need to be “looking carefully” to make sure that no one goes unnoticed and slowly slips away, to fall “short of the grace of God”. We don’t want anyone to be lost, but we have a special bond, in Christ, to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we do not want to lose one of our spiritual siblings.

There are a number of ways that we can help and encourage one another. We can use messages from God’s word (Acts 15:32), reading/sharing the Scriptures (Romans 15:4), and singing hymns (Col. 3:16). Let’s do what we can to help each other!

                -- John Thrower Jr.