By Not Known
This is the last Sunday in our month-long focus on congregational care. Slide
shows, interviews, a CC booth, a mystery meal, Bible studies and Sunday messages
have all informed us about different aspects of care in the Bible and here at ORPC.
Let’s review:
- Christian care arises as a response to God’s care for us in Jesus and that we
should love others as we have been loved by God in Jesus (1Jn 4:7-21 ). - Care should be addressed to the whole person and we are specifically not to
neglect soul-care (Phil 1: 1- 11 ). - God’s holiness, ȧs seen in his deeds and commands, is at the root of care
(Lev 19: 1- 18). - Real care is not in words or emotions, but in deeds where we set aside our
pride, our rights and our self-interest in order to serve even our enemies
(Mat 5: 38- 6: 4).
Is that all? Did we just hear and maybe learn some of these things and now leave
them behind as we move to the events of next month?
No! We all continue to need care and help. We all can continue to give care an
help.
The reason why care continues is simple. Our care of others arises because we are
God’s children through the spiritual new birth. That new birth means that we are
again to bear fully God’s image (Gen 1:26-27). God is love (1Jn 4: 16) and will
always be love, because he changes not (Mal 3:6; Jas 1: 17). Besides all this, there
will be people who need our care until Christ returns (eg. Mat 26 : 11).
Caring is tiresome toil and we easily give up after a time. This may be why
Scripture urges us never to grow weary of doing good (Gal 6:9).
Who and how can you help as we move from a month of care to a life of care?