3:279 – Support – We All Need It

#faithbites #faithjourney support #RoadToEdD

Setting

You are probably tired of me talking about my dissertation. I know I’m tired of talking about it. During the past few days, I have been posting my progress on Facebook as this is my final push towards the degree. My goal is by Friday to have a complete first draft dissertation. This post isn’t about me, but about everyone coming out of the woodwork to support me. The usual suspects are there giving me strength as well as many coming out of the wood work with advice, support, and prayers. This is what it means to live in a community that loves and supports you.

Imagine if we didn’t need a special event to feel that support. Having a rough day at work? Your cheering squad comes over to make dinner and give you good wishes. Feeling a bit under the weather? You support team checks in on you and picks the kids up from school. Light fixture broke and you don’t know how to fix it? You friends come over to fix it without it becoming a big ordeal. This is what living in a missional supportive community looks like. We all give, we all share, and we all help.

This is how God created us and how Jesus lived. We just need to get back to it. There is no I in team. (Ok, that was a bit cheesy, but I digress)

Scripture

• Romans 12:5 – So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
• 1 John 2:10 – Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
• Exodus 17:12 – When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

Reflection

The Holy Spirit is leading me to new to me scripture. The story in Exodus is new to me. Imagine praying so long and so hard that you are tired. But rather than stop, your family gave you a place to sit and held your hands up to God until sunset. That is what support is. It’s not necessarily doing something for you, but helping you through what you are doing. In 1 John we see that when we love our brothers we wont’ stumble. this is part of the commandment of love God and love your neighbor. Finally in Romans, we see that we are one body in Christ, and that while we are still individuals we are members of each other. I am my brother’s keeper.

If we are members of each other, wouldn’t we want one another to succeed? Why would we compete against each other? Let us help one another, support one another. The beautiful thing is support can come in many forms. It’s not a one size fits all. Find what type of support you are able to offer and most important, the type of support your friend needs. Then, as Nike says, Just Do It

Challenge

Take a personal inventory today. What skills do you have that can be supportive of someone else. They can be time, talents, skills, money, property, anything. When you know what you can use and give, you are better able to support others.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you as always for your Word. You have unquestionably shown us that we aren’t to live alone. That we are all related and interconnected through you. Help us to show that support and love for our brothers and sisters that you show to us. Guide us as we identify the skills and wealth that we have to share with others. Once we do that, turn us into people of action. Let us go out and do! We love you Lord and thank you for your perfect example. In your name, Amen.