I have learned something in this role I have as pastor, chaplain, counselor, SS teacher, Dad, Husband and friend, that if I am going to be able to help someone I must do several very important things. These things are not optional and they must be consistent in someone's life. Now all of us know people who need help. And of course all of need help ourself with things in our qwn lives. We want our lives to change more and more to be like Jesus and we call this thing of growing to be more and more like Jesus Spiritual Maturity. We hope to get these things from God and from others ourself and we for sure must give them to others.
Someone in my Sunday School class yesterday mentioned that Henry Blackaby once said you can measure spiritual growth by how sensitive you are to the Holy Spirit, and your willingness to listen and respond to the prompting or leading of the Holy Spirit. I like that thought, and I believe that the Spirit of God fills us and leads us to live a life serving othes, and helping others to see the Lord and turn to the Lord. This means their lives will change too. But there are some very important things we must do ourselves, in order for us to help see others lives changed. Here they are.
1. We must love them. If someone has problems and needs to change we who love them must love them and seek to make sure they know we love them. This does not mean acceptance of things we disapprove of in their lives. But it does mean kindness and concern for them always. Sometimes they will not understand our love because there is not acceptance of sinful patterns or things we know are not acceptable to God. This is a deep subject and could be several blog articles and a couple of sermons on how to love someone who is not doing what they should be doing. But bottom line none of us are doing everything we should be doing. We all do the wrong thing sometimes. But we who want to help others change must love people unconditionally but do not accept the unbiblical things that may be present in their life.
2. We must speak truth to them. The speaking of truth is essential to godly living. The truth is found in the Word of God and so we must seek to know and live out the truth as we find it and learn it ourselves from God's Holy word. Consistent study of the bible is the key. Both individually and with others in a group setting. As God's Word is real in our lives so that we believe it and live it then we can help others to see it and to apply it to their lives. This comes by speaking the truth to them, even when it is uncomfortable to do so. You cannot do this second step of life change until you are really doing the first well. You must live them and continue to love them while you speak truth to them.
3. We must pray for them. This sounds so simple but I think most of us have a void or weakness in this area. We pray some and feel if we put them on a list at Sunday School or church we are getting some "face time" with God then we have the prayer angel covered. God uses prayer to change us as we pray. He speaks to us and molds us to help each of us become agents of change. If we want to see others lives changed we must be consistent in our prayers for them.
4. We must allow God to work in their lives. This too may sound odd to some. Too many Christians like to try to help the Holy Spirit and press people for change before they are ready. We must be patient with people.
Now these things consistently applied to everyone who has problems and needs to change will bring change for the better. This includes of course me and you. So we must, love each other, speak truth to each other, pray for each other, and let God lead us for change that will make us more like Jesus.
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