10-October


Happy Friday. Yesterday, we had storms and I got caught in Arkansas, so I spent the night with Tal and Tracy. We were talking about the codes and the togetherness of the early Christians. One of the things I remember most about Ephesus is the wagon wheel markings everywhere. The early Christians used this as a sign, in fact this was used before the fish markings. This symbol was made from stacking the first letters of the phrase “Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour”.


IcthysIota – first letter of the name Jesus in the Greek alphabet.

X – first letter for “Christ.”

O – the first letter for the Greek term for God.

Y – “Son,” and

E – “Savior”


The result is the pizza or wagon wheel that is chiseled into walls, roads and columns all over Ephesus. The signal that brought Christians together. 


It was just as important then as it is today that Christians week out one another—for worship, for uplifting each other, to love each other, for fellowship, to pray for each other, to share burdens, to help out in times of need, and the list goes on and on. If you doubt, do a search for “one another” and see how many times is used.  


We are not called to our relationship with Jesus all alone. It’s simply not how God planned it. “It’s not good for man to be alone.” Genesis 2:18

Even if you are an introvert, you need times to be in community with other believers. 


“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭

““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬


One of the thing we know about the church at Ephesus is that it was a strong, substantial church because of the way the Apostle addressed it and it was also one of the seven cities addressed in the book of Revelation. Community is vital for the church. 


Lord Jesus thank you for one another and for those brothers and sisters who surround us when times are difficult and when times are good. Help us to be conscious of the fact that as believers, we need each other and we simply can’t do this life on our own. Teach us to be good to one another and to love each other as you have loved us. We praise you today for the church you sustain and protect. You are our God and we are your people. What a wonder you are!! Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

January 17, 2020

Happy Friday. It’s the end of another week and we have had more opportunities to share the love of Christ with those around us and sometimes that takes quite a bit of effort. I don’t know about you, but I’m not always anxious to embrace others and really listen to them or share with them (especially those who I don’t know well). Sometimes, I just look at them and think “Are you for real?” I don’t always agree with people over politics, sports or of course, religion. And let’s face it, we’d rather spend time with people we like and mostly agree.  And then I read my Bible. God hasn’t called us to sit in our little groups with only those we naturally gravitate towards, but to love people—all people, even those who aren’t necessarily loveable. In this passage, Paul writing to the people of Colosse remarks on how wonderful it is that they truly love others. That love must have really been something over and above the normal and he tells them that it is evident that it comes from the Holy Sp
Read more

January 15, 2020

Happy Wednesday to you. I hope your week is going well. Yesterday, I went to Sams. I was out of things like trash bags, toilet paper, and chicken, so off I went. I like going to Sams because there is always lots to look at and the isles are nice and wide. Everytime I’m there, I am amazed at how much stuff and everything from diapers to TVs to mangos to beds. It just seems incredible that so many things in such quantities are all under one roof.  King David never saw a store with as much stuff aa Sams of course, but he did see countless miracles and understand that God has plans. He knew from creation and history that he was serving a God of miracles and he know that God loved him and his people and would take care of them. He was amazed and awe-struck by the fact that a God who had done such great and mighty things not only cared about his people but that He loved them with such a great love.  “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can co
Read more

January 9, 2020

It’s Thursday and I woke up to the blowing wind! Lots of it—I’m dreading Boomer waking up and having to go outside with him. That harsh, bitter wind seems cruel and almost evil. But I’ll wrap myself up with a fe layers and boots and brave it all.  Sometimes I think we try to do that with things we know aren’t right—things that are evil. We try to wrap ourselves up and just wade into it, but Paul tells us we should reject it—stay away from it. “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:20-24‬ NIV When he wrote this he’d been in Berea and the Christians there diligently searched the scriptures to make sure everything Paul said was in line. Paul here is encouraging the Thessalonians to
Read more