Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
This past weekend was not easy for me. Saturday, I had to attend a service for a close church member that past away. That’s hard enough. Then I was told that along with myself the church praise team was asked to sing a few of his favorite songs. The first thought that came to my mind was no way. It was hard already. the day was already going to be full of o many emotions and memories and i was no willing to do that. I’d never done that before, and neither had a few of our praise team members. But the family had requested it so we rehearsed and did what was asked. Now, I know that wasn’t the most Christian like response, but I was just not willing to do that. So when the service cam that day and the family came in to say there last good-byes along with lose friends I was an emotional wreck. The closer it came for me to minister the more i kept thinking, ‘I can’t do this, i can’t do this’. But I had to. So I prayed God would give myself and the others singing along with me, to give us the strength to do the task that was requested of us. He was and is our brother in Christ and it’s not about me right now.
After a little time in the service something amazing happened. His family and wife and mother began to sing along. they began to praise God, they began to smile and for a time in God’s presence with his people, they forgot about their hurt and the great lose they had. It was truly something that only God could do. It was his spirit in that room that helped bring light to a dark time. Once service had concluded even the next day, the church and the pastor was receiving many calls from the family about how great they felt and how we had helped in them feeling at peace with the sudden lose of her son, brother, husband. They felt at peace. I give this story or testimony if you want to call it that, because its a true tale about how we need to be their for one another. We are here to serve. Not just because its the right thing to do, but because they need us. On that day, my church family called for our help and we responded with urgency. Now again, myself I wasn’t so urgent at first because I was thinking about it from an emotional stand point, just wanting to mourn along with the family. But God really set me in a place to be their for them in their one request. Sing his favorite song. And those songs brought joy to a family who was deeply hurting. I’ll never forget that day because you really saw the spirit of God come in and change the atmosphere from total grief to complete relief. Don’t diminish how vital it is to be there for others. Even when it feels like its not the right time or your not wanting to for whatever reason. Just do it in the name of Jesus and watch God transform the whole situation, even making you better in the process.
Philippians 2:4 – do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.