BE
A BUILDER OF OTHERS
BREAD
1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the
weak and not to please ourselves.
2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:1-4 (NIV)
2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:1-4 (NIV)
32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace,
which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are
sanctified. 33 I have not coveted
anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You
yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the
needs of my companions. 35 In
everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the
weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to
receive.’”
Acts 20:32-35 (NIV)
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound
teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with
the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NIV)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each
other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14-15 (NIV)
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14-15 (NIV)
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan
has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And
when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
(NIV)
23 “Everything is permissible”--but not everything is
beneficial. “Everything is permissible”--but not everything is constructive. 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but
the good of others. 1 Corinthians
10:23-24 (NIV)
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to
peace and to mutual edification.
Romans 14:19 (NIV)
Romans 14:19 (NIV)
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended
from David. This is my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:8-10 (NIV)
9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:8-10 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we
have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and
especially of those who believe. 11 Command
and teach these things. 12 Don’t
let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the
believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public
reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was
given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands
on you. 15 Be diligent in
these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your
progress. 16 Watch your life and
doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both
yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy
4:9-16 (NIV)
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your
most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep
yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to
bring you to eternal life. 22 Be
merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch
others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with
fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:20-23 (NIV)
BUTTER
“It is much easier and delightful to
build rather than to mend people. Do-overs
in a life always carry with it such icky consequences that most don’t factor in
until it is too late and they are face
to face with them. Also, don’t
arrogantly think for a minute that you will not ever need a voice of wisdom and
reason either. Do your part to help
others on their way, to strengthen the saint and to help them to stand. We do this through His power and always for
His glory and our good.” BHY
“Truth
and love are the characteristics which build up the church, especially in association
with each other. Yet this combination is rare in the contemporary church. Some
leaders are great champions of the truth and anxious to fight for it, but
display little love. Others are great advocates of love, but have no equal
commitment to truth...Truth
is hard if it is not softened by love and love is soft if it is not
strengthened by the truth.” John
Stott
“Truth must enter into the
soul, penetrate and saturate it, or else it is of no value. Doctrines held as a matter of creed are like
bread in the hand, which ministers no nourishment to the frame, but doctrine
accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains
and builds up the body.” Charles H. Spurgeon
“--Blazingly,
Jesus illustrated this with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). No self-respecting Jew of that time would
speak to a Samaritan. But Jesus, caring
more for the person than the tradition, knew she had an unquenched thirst. He sought her out, found common ground -- and
the rest is history. It’s a model I’m
seeing lived out all around me - people finding common ground, taking risks,
running toward instead of away from threat. Being brave to love and heal and bless -- no
matter the cost to self. Daring to hold back, or to step in to forge a way for
peace, stem a destructive tide, or build a river in a desert. I’m seeing that being salt and light means
engaging our world precisely where we are placed. Wherever we find ourselves,
there, living simply, profoundly, giving our best at all times for Jesus’ sake.
Upfront or behind the scenes, whether
like me you are a helper, or whether you are a leader; a doctor, an executive,
a parent, a principal, a granny or a golfer, it matters not -- only that we are
givers and love at all times.” Paula Kirby
“Last night I was so
tired that I could hardly move, but as I reflected on the day’s events, several
observations came to my mind and heart. Building requires commitment and must be a priority. It doesn't just happen. Building always costs- usually time, talent,
and treasure. In order to build effectively, people must be
encouraged and equipped. Each day offers us an
opportunity to build or to tear down. We do both with our actions, attitudes,
and most of all, with our words. Wherever you are today, the critical question
to ask yourself is, ‘Am I building or am I tearing down?’ We build our legacy
one choice and one day at a time. Hudson Taylor once wrote that there are three
phases to any impossible project, Impossible...difficult...done!’” Donna
Evans
“Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying, Snatch them in
pity from sin and the grave; Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen, Tell
them of Jesus the mighty to save. Though
they are slighting Him, Still He is waiting, Waiting the penitent child to
receive; Plead with them earnestly, Plead with them gently; He will
forgive if they only believe. Down in
the human heart, Crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can
restore; Touched by a loving heart, Wakened by kindness, Chords that are broken
will vibrate once more. Rescue the
perishing, Duty demands it; Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; Back
to the narrow way, Patiently win them; Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has
died. Rescue the
perishing, Care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.” Fanny Crosby
“Her
example was the antithesis of complaining, that ‘woe is me’ tendency to grouse,
grouch, and grumble. Complainers are usually contentious instead of
content, tear down instead of building, and wear others out emotionally. A
complainer’s lack of contentment is often caused by a tendency to compare
themselves to others. Complainers are often people who relive ugly situations
and perceived injustices over and over in their minds. They are unwilling or
unable to let past events or hurts go. Complainers keep
reloading their minds with negative thoughts and often live in depression, despair,
or darkness. Pastor Harry Reeder puts it
like this, ‘Selfish, self-absorbed, self-centered people are despairing,
despondent, and depressed.’” Donna
Evans
HEART SAVOR
- ·
To those
who have been given much, much is expected.
- ·
Do
your best to leave each circumstance you are in with the aroma of Christ.
- ·
It
matters greatly how you live your life.
