No matter how old or weak you may be you are never worthless!

It is true that some people spend their whole lives helping others. When they can no longer do that they feel useless.

LOGIC: If the people you helped wouldn’t have needed help you would not have been helpful!

Maybe it is your turn to give someone else the ministry of helping others.

We, however, live in an anti-God culture, and so we are taught that you have to make your own way.

LIES!

Jesus said that “you can’t produce anything without me” ( John 15:5b God’s Word Translation©). We do not make it on our own; we are not alone, The Spirit works wonders through us, and in us, but not in mere human strength!

Perhaps at one time you were the neighbour, like the Samaritan of the parable (Luke 10:25-37), but now you find yourself the one beaten down, near death, and some other person becomes the neighbour who helps and who is called to “Go and imitate his example!” (Luke 10:37 God’s Word Translation©).

It is past the time when we should stop telling God what we will do, and listen for the whisper of The Spirit Who says what we are to do!

Never do in your strength. Always do the in power of God by The Spirit.

“Love of material things sets us up for spiritual failure.” (Euprepius of Egypt, 4th Century AD)

The smallest universe we can experience is that made up of the material.

The smallest world we can live in is made up of our opinions.

Jesus puts us into the infinite universe and has overcome the world.

Which option will you choose: material or spiritual?

“Loud preaching and long preaching can never replace inspired preaching”, Jim Eliot (martyr), 1951

“When you pray, don’t ramble like heathens who think they’ll be heard if they talk a lot” (Matthew 7:7 God’s Word Translation©).

“The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees teach with Moses’ authority. So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don’t follow their example, because they don’t practice what they preach” (Matthew 23:2-3 God’s Word Translation©).

It is Who we serve, not what we say, that makes the difference. If you take centre stage and leave Jesus in the wings all you are doing is putting on a show.

“But the Lord told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 God’s Word Translation©).

People form opinions of other people within seconds. What people wear, colour of skin, weight, hair style, age, and (critically) whether they remind us of someone and whether we like, or dislike, that person we know.

Before we have really met them, interacted with them, or they had a chance to display their real self to us, we have judged them!

God does not see any of the things we use as a standard to judge; God looks at their real self deep in their heart and soul.

We would want a chance to be accepted before we are judged, but we do not offer that to others.

“Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is [the meaning of] Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12 God’s Word Translation©).

Think about that.

A lot of Christians buy into the principle, “Stop judging”.

The powers of religion want members to believe that; otherwise the institution must surely be judged also.

But what the Bible says has a context. “Stop judging so that you will not be judged. Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you” (Matthew 7:1-2 God’s Word©).

So, when you judge with love, fairness using a careful examination applied with humility following the process Jesus demanded (Matthew 18:15-17 God’s Word Translation©***), you are on sound ground, spiritually speaking.

Anything else comes from evil. And that should be judged.

***“If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer. But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses. If he ignores these witnesses, tell it to the community of believers. If he also ignores the community, deal with him as you would a heathen or a tax collector” (God’s Word Translation©).