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by Cynthia J. Floweres ©December 1998 A woman, whom we will call Damaris, takes her daily stroll through the park. This routine helps to stimulate her mind while she communes with the Spirit. She ponders about the disillusionment that often comes with life, which often can occur when you are going through trials and tribulations, believe that fellow believers will do what the Word of God instructs, and they don't. You expect hypocrisy from the world, but coming from the brethren can cause confusion and searing hurt.
Damaris thirsted for the Lord and strove to be obedient to what the Lord had told her to do. One command, which she took to heart, "forsake not the assembling together with other believers," propelled her to search for and eventually join a group of believers whom she just knew, in her heart, would be like the first Century church-a family, worshiping, loving and praising God, and loving one another. However, much to her chagrin, her experience almost shattered her newly birthed spirit, because they did not act according to the instructions in God's word she had learned about.
Naive, a babe in Christ you could say, and excited about her newfound relationship with Jesus, Damaris overlooked, during her quest for a spiritual family, that she was dealing with people. She quickly learned many who profess to know God have their own way of doing and interpreting things. She wondered, as the years passed would she become just as guilty and cynical.
In studying the Good Book, she found that one of the main things God instructed was to LOVE. To love God, your neighbor, and the brethren. Another instruction that he gave was bear one another's burdens. Why, because we are suppose to be one body-one body in Christ. We are to be like Him, do like Him, and love others, if we are His.
Damaris enlightened by the teachings of Paul, became further troubled and couldn't understand how someone is selected to be worthy and of merit, and another not worthy or of merit, within the body, to receive preferential treatment. Wasn't there something in the Word about giving special treatment to those of a certain status versus those who were not. Are not both equal in God's eyes? Why then do the saints tend to fall into this trend of distinguishing one from the other?
Do we exhibit the love for one another that Jesus teaches about? Do we include the homeless, the unwed mother, the prisoner, the elderly, the prostitute, alcoholic and the many others that Jesus would surely walk with, talk with, and love, if He was here now. Are they welcomed as part of the body [you know it's said that God is not a respecter of persons, but for some reason people are] or shunned. God looks on the inside, people look on the outside. He knows what He destined them to be. Will they, too see that there is no love among us? Damaris would like to take you on a journey, of what you would expect to be a day of love and fellowship among the brethren. Give me your ear, sit and listen because it goes like this:
It is a Sunday morning bright and early; people are waking up all over the city. The saints are preparing to put on their finery, of hats, suits, dresses and shoes. Adorning their Sunday best, what was called in the olden days, Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. People are getting ready to walk or ride to a place where there is possibly no love among us. Joyfully and expectantly on their way to a building, tent, or other structure, looking forward to joining others, who form the whole body, where there is possibly no love among us. Once her destination is reached, she walks inside, and exclaims, "How good it is to be in the House of the Lord." After her eyes adjusted to the light in the sanctuary, she spotted several women that she knew, who are a part of the ladies' ministry. She decides to walk over and speak-she was ignored. Don't they see me? Didn't they hear me? Am I invisible? Oh well, wait, look over there, isn't that Goldie who was crying last week. Yes, I remember, I sat with her, held her hand, reminding her of God's promises, and have offered her words of encouragement on more than one occasion. I'll walk over, speak and see how…. Oh, oh what's this? Goldie looked at me, put her head down, turned and walked the other way. Perhaps, I remind her of that day. I was only going to inquire how she is doing and if she needed anything. Didn't the Lord say we are to bear one another's burdens? Weep when the other weeps, rejoice when they rejoice. Where is the love among us? Isn't that Sister Sookie over there, in deep conversation with several others, whispering and pointing at another sister. It must be juicy, because all the other heads are bobbing up and down. What did the Lord say about our tongues being like fire? Damaris' eyes then fell on Brother Deacon Good News, the man whose job it is to make sure everything is running smoothly for the pastor and the church, walking her way. Almost face-to-face, she opened her mouth to greet him, while extending her hand to shake his. Goodness, he kept walking right past me. Deacon Brother Good News acted like he did not even see me. Would have knocked me down, if I hadn't jumped out the way. He's probably preoccupied. Is there no love among us? My, my, there sure is lots of activity this morning, and worship should be starting in a few minutes. Gazing around, for a seat, she spotted another group in another corner, talking and laughing up a storm. Isn't that Shirley Sue who walked over to join them. Goodness, they turned, looked at her, mouthed a couple of words and went right back to what they were saying, leaving Shirley Sue standing with that forlorn look on her face. The young lady may have needed someone to talk to, to listen and agree with her in prayer, or might be going through a storm. This fever must be catching; the young people have picked it up. When did we become too busy to listen, to share our time with another for beneficial things? Is there no love among us? Damaris pondered. How can we profess to be one body in the Lord, when every one according to their own agenda and mind appear to be guided by the spirit-self? How can we say we are the Body of Christ, when we don't even notice there are brothers and sisters sitting beside us in pain, emotional, spiritual and physical? Do you think, if we took the time, we would see the hurt, in their eyes, facial expressions, how they carry themselves, even though they may attempt an "I'm all right smile". Some saints have become masters at camouflaging the true depth of their agony. Others are apprehensive about sharing or discussing their trials with others, because what they confide may be misunderstood, at times rebuked and advised they have no faith, or even hinted they are having a pity party. All to often we don't take the time to listen before we pass, what we are not suppose to-judgment. Do we go to them, comfort them with a hug, inquire if there is anything we can do, remind them that God loves them-loves them with an everlasting love. Is there no love among us? What should we do after the spirit has drawn someone to fellowship with our body. Some may be seasoned warriors, who lost their way and are being drawn back to the bosom of the Lord, and those allowing the Lord into their lives for the first time. How do we minister to them? How do we treat them? Should we care that perhaps their spirit is tender, excited as a child's, in anticipation of receiving and opening a long awaited gift? They fervently tear the wrapper, eager to get to the contents of the package, which might be fragile and if mishandled, can break, beyond repair. How can we be one body when part of the body is hurting? Don't you realize that hurting part can affect the whole part as well? Have we forgotten the Lord's message about the lost sheep? Did not the Shepherd search for it, and once found, holding it close to His heart, brought the lamb back home. Do we intentionally avoid becoming involved and giving of our self to help another, so as not to be held accountable for that person? Is there no love among us? Walking to the seat she decided on, she noticed a homeless person and a young lady with heavy, smudged mascara eyes, and rouge on her cheeks, whose appearance reflected she might have slept in the clothes she had on. Damaris walked over, spoke with them, hugged and welcomed them to worship. The aroma emanating from them was not at all desirable, but she sat down and talked with them for a while, oblivious to the frowns and stares she was receiving from some around her. These visitors were God's children also. The Lord did not ask for any degrees or pedigrees, he requested people to come to Him just as they are. She also reminded herself that she might be "entertaining angels-unaware." Scripture can be found for anything to justify any actions, but do we pray and ask the Holy Spirit, in that instance, to reveal if that is what is truly meant, by that scripture, or do we allow our minds to interpret. Are we not to show love, the love of God that was to become imbedded in our spirits-when He accepted us, and give God's unconditional love to others? Is there no love among us? How can we be God's body if we do not pray and ask God to place on our heart or bring to mind those who have a need? How are we be one body, when people who have been around, you no longer see and do not concern yourself about them? Do we attempt to or show interest and find out where they are, what could have happened to them. Might they be sick, need help, in a spiritual storm, hungry, are they backsliding? Will you pass it off until the day you see their name in an obituary column and then compensate with, should have, would have, or could have? Is there no love among us? Have we become so busy, so selfish, so heavenly minded that we are no longer any earthly good, when we treat others of the body and the lost of the world like they don't exist, and their trouble is their own. How can we say Jesus lives in our hearts? Jesus said, He is the light and we are His and He is in us. If this is so, then our spiritual brightness should shine because of the radiance coming from the Lord through us, for all to see. We are to reach out, show them God's love. Jesus is not here physically, but we are. We are the vehicles for the Lord's light and love to manifest so that others in the body and in the world might receive Him. Not only should we be able to tell them "God loves them," but also let them know that you love them also. A hug, a smile, a dinner invitation, a shopping trip, a visit, pray with them, feed them, clothe them, encourage them, we may be the only reflection of Jesus that they will see on this earth. Help them to make the right choices so that one-day they will be able to see Him face to face. Tell me what do we do as children of the Lord, if there is no love among us. How can we be a witness to anyone, if there is no love among us-the brethren? How can we show that God is real, alive, if there is no love among us? What example are we exhibiting in our worship of God, when we are instructed to worship Him in spirit, in truth, and with great jubilation, but instead, our countenance often reflects agony, boredom and distraction, no joy-no joy of the Lord mirrored. What can we say to some brother, sister or child who has lost their way when there is no love among us? Yes, God wants us to prosper in all areas of our lives; however, where should our emphasis be placed, just on material things. Are we not to reflect the love of God in everything we say and do? Yes, Damaris' heart was heavy. Her heart grieved for her fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. She loved them. Had something to tell them, lamented if they would be offended? She needed to let them know the Lord's heart was bleeding because of their actions. She fought the urging of the Spirit. She knew that judgment comes to the household of faith first and she would be guilty of disobedience for not saying anything and inadvertently sanctioning their behavior. Her time was short and she had a higher order to answer to. Out of love for her brethren she had to let them know, that she loved them, and many were hurting among their midst. Following the dictates of the Holy Spirit, she broached the subject with one, then another, and another. The response was not as she thought it would be. It was as a ripple from a stone cast into the water. She recalled that God had not given her a Spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Several months later, after healing manifested, and the anointing of the love of God blossomed throughout the body, they looked around for Damaris, but couldn't find her, physically, but her presence and love she gave was still there. The body took up the baton and imparted the love of God, to the brethren and others time and again. We say we are preparing for and anticipating the second coming of the Lord. Are we really going to be ready, when He comes? What will the charges be, if there is no love among us? Let us take time and examine ourselves according to the Word of God and what He instructed us to do and to be. Remember, God is love and we are made in the image of God. The phileo and agape love of God should be within our hearts for the brethren, and for the salvation of those in the world, after all, we are His ambassadors and disciples here on this earth. We are one body, one body in Christ and there should always be love- God's love among us Lev.19: 18; Deu.6: 5; Ps.146: 1-6; Mat.25: 31-46; Jn.3: 16; 14:15, 15:12-17; Rom.5: 5, 13:8-10; I Co.13; II Cor.1: 1-7; Gal. 5:22; Heb.13: 1-3; Jam.2: 1-4, 9-10; I Pe. 2:17, 5:5-14; II Pe. 1:7; and I Jn. 4:7-21. |