Will I become a forgotten member of the Family of God?
by Jan Meadows
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
It is an easy task to encourage and show love to a brother or sister in Christ when you can be at worship service, every Bible study, every fellowship event. But then I thought, “What if I can no longer attend services or get- togethers?”
Right now, I live a very busy life. I am healthy, still considered young, and can come and go as I please. Will it always be that way?
If the Lord chooses, I will grow older. I may get sick or become homebound. I may no longer have the opportunity to be with my brothers and sisters. I may lose touch with new members. “Who is at my home congregation now?” I may ask. “Have I ever met them?” How would I feel to be isolated from brothers and sisters I am going to spend eternity with?
Am I now guilty of not encouraging a fellow Christian who can no longer attend services? Do I make a five-minute effort to send a card once a week to someone? Do I take fifteen minutes of my time to call a shut-in to offer a word of encouragement? Would I take one hour out of my month to visit or cook a meal for a brother or sister who can no longer get out to enjoy a meal or have a talk together about God’s word?
I know these are hard questions to ask ourselves but I feel we all need to examine our priorities. It isn’t what more I can do; it is what more God can do through me if I open my heart, mind, and time to His will.
via church bulletin
Charleston, WV
Editor’s Note…Let the Lord use you this week in reminding our members who are unable to worship with us regularly that they are still a very important part of our church family…Bill & Sue Daley, Mae Deller, Wilda Freeland, Lenny Hungerman, Marcelyn Jones, Dorothy Kimble, Bill Kopyar, Alice Shunk, Leon & June Smith, Marlene Trisolene, Joanne Wallner and Bill White.