Rally Cap part 4
A setback is really just a setup for a comeback. So don't give up on people. Put your rally cap on and cheer them on. Help them along. And, at the same time, let others cheer YOU on. Let others help YOU along. Philippians 2:4 says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." So if I look after you, and you look after me, neither one of us has to worry about ourselves. So being self-centered can go away... when we work together. As the old cartoon says, "Things work out better when we work together." And that's what being Christ-centered is: Being people centered. Because whatever you do to the least of them you do unto the King. How we treat others is how we treat God. We love Him BY loving each other. We do things "for" God by doing things for each other. By taking care of each other... we actually take care of ourselves. Because we are already filled up with God--with His Spirit, His life, His love--so we fill ourselves to overflowing by giving that love away. Sharing the gift we've been given. Not kicking each other when we're down, but helping each other back up. Remember the story of the prodigal son? Where he had to hit rock bottom before he realized it was better to live in daddy's house than try to go it alone? And when he went back, daddy didn't make him jump through hoops. Daddy didn't punish him. Daddy received him with open arms. And not only restored him, but elevated him. I know it hurts when people burn you. Makes you want to stay away from the fire. But if we have a "one and done" mentality where we "forgive" but refuse to forget, where we always keep one weary eye on each other so that we can protect ourselves from getting hurt again... we miss out on so much. Because here's the straight truth: People mess up. Everybody makes mistakes. And if we write each other off we WILL end up alone. And it is not good for man to be alone. Even I, the "antisocial pastor," know that I can't do this life by myself. I need help. And that's not weakness. That's wisdom. Because we're not SUPPOSED to do it by ourselves. We're all in this together. All on the same team. All different members of the same body. And that's important because a big part of rooting for each other is accepting each other. Not for who we want each other to be, but for who we actually are. I don't have the same giftings as you. I can't reach the same people as you. But if we work together we can get it all done. You reach the people you can reach, and I'll do my best to help and support you. And I'll reach the people I can reach as you help and support me. And watch this: Sometimes if you go down swinging you won't go down at all. When you can't hold on... hold on. Realize that God is holding on to YOU. Realize that people care about you. You are NOT alone. Even when it feels like it. Especially when it feels like it. Because God's strength is made perfect in your weakness. When you're at your weakest, that's when He's strongest. When we need Him most that's when He shows up the most. And He shows up... in us. When WE rally around each other. When WE take care of each other. When we hold on to each other. So don't let things get you down. Let people help you up!