Honor One Another
Theologian Richard Pratt once shared two stories about standing in line. Story #1 happened in Poland during the last few years of communism. Pratt was standing in a long line that stretched around several city blocks. It was a line for a precious commodity at that time—toilet paper! Despite the line and the long wait, everyone was patient and courteous. Young people held places in line for the old and men stood in line for women. It was an amazing demonstration of gracious unity among an oppressed people. Story #2 happened in an airport in Asia. Pratt had arrived early and was third in line at the ticket counter. But when the ticket agent later walked up to the counter, Pratt suddenly realized he was fiftieth in line. All the people in line behind him had pushed past him as if he wasn’t there. People in this world oftentimes treat other people as if they’re not there or don’t matter, a pattern I pray you’ll agree is a pattern the church must never follow. But sometimes we do. Lucia and I once visited a church during Sunday School and stayed for the service, and we made it through that entire time without a single person coming up to us to welcome us. It was as if we were invisible! We came to discover as we continued to attend that there was no malice or intent to hurt. The church had simply fallen into a pattern that many churches do of focusing so intently on the “regulars” that they didn’t have eyes to see new people. Thankfully, we were able to bring this to their attention in a way that helped them to better engage with visitors. But sometimes not seeing is the byproduct of a sinful spirit towards others. In Matthew 25, as Jesus foretold of the judgment He will bring when He returns, He condemns those on His left for not caring for “the least of these” which led them to respond in dismay, saying in Matthew 25:44 “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Jesus’ reply to them was that they did see these but did not share His heart for these: a tragic failure of care for others as Jesus then foretold in Matthew 25:46 “these will go away into eternal punishment.” Does how we treat one another, and especially in the family of God, matter to our heavenly Father?
We invite you to come join us this Sunday morning for our in-person worship service at Leptondale Bible Church in Newburgh, starting at 10:55 AM. For those unable to attend, our service can be viewed live on the church’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/leptondalebiblechurch. This Sunday, we’ll continue a sermon series from 1st Corinthians titled “Written for Our Instruction” with a message from 1st Corinthians 11:17-34 titled “Honor one another.”
God bless!
Pastor Mike