Over the last week, I have been reminded of when God’s people were repairing the wall around Jerusalem. They worked side by side, shoulder to shoulder – doing the tedious work of mortaring the wall.
The reason for working in this formation was two-fold:
- Side by side, they could encourage one another if one should get tired or discouraged and
- Side by side, they could keep the enemy from squeezing in between.
Shoulder to shoulder, with one purpose in mind. In unity.
In the Hello Mornings Bible Study, we are focusing this week on familiar words to us all – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. I read it in The Message in an attempt to read it with unfamiliarity.
The Message says without love we are like “the creaking of a noisy gate.” I would imagine it sounds similar to the creaking of chalk on the chalkboard when we were kids. Remember that sound?
But what hit even more deeply were these words:
“So no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” (The MSG)
Bankrupt.
Sobering word. Completely depleted. Empty. Nothing to give or offer others because … well … when one is bankrupt, one cannot even take care of themselves, never mind others.
The only way we will ever love others is by asking Him to deposit His love into our hearts. We desperately need to be a people who love Him more deeply than ever, so that, we can love each other and those in our lives.
In His love, we will be able to continue to love when it is hard to do so, when we are tired, when we disagree, when we are discouraged or disappointed. I imagine us like those repairing the wall those many years ago.
Shoulder to shoulder, their noses to the wall, eyes fixed on the bricks in need of mortaring, their fingers bleeding as they filled the gaps and the whisper was heard:
“Keep going.
We can do this.
Look how far we’ve come.
Look how much more we can do in His Name.
Don’t give up now!”
This familiar song fell with a newness over these last few days.
Keep on going, friends! Let’s love, with tenacity, in the mighty Name of Lord, Jesus because their lives depend on it.
And so does each of ours.
Today I am joining … Unite and Testimony Tuesday and True Story and #RaRaLinkup and Titus 2 Tuesday and Intentional Tuesday .
Great reminder to keep pressing on! Thanks for the encouragement today!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder and encouragement to not give up.
Found you at #IntentionalTuesday …
Come share with us at EncourageMe Linkup (http://www.graciousinsight.org/read-the-bible-intentional-bible-reading/#.Vt7L9fkrLIW) … I’ll be glad to have you around.
Thank you for your gracious visit and invite. Blessings!
Great blog to remind us to keep on going. I love that David Crowder song. Bought the CD.
It is funny how a song can come back to our memory bringing a powerful message at just the right time. Blessings!
This presents such a picture of unity – shoulder to shoulder, rebuilding that wall (btw I have been reminded of that several times in the last week too!), this is how we do Christianity. Encouraging one another when we’re tired, and shoulder to shoulder to keep the Enemy from squeezing in. This is so good!
I’m your neighbor today on Testimony Tuesday and I’m glad I stopped by!
Thank you so much, Ruthie. We all need a “pick me up” at times and we all gain as we do so for one another. I’m glad you stopped by too!
We’re writing with a similar theme today, Joanne. Go God! I love the two-fold reason: side-by-side. You and your words are standing right beside me today, offering encouragement and keeping the enemy at bay. Lovely. Visiting via #intentionalTuesday.
Kristi, perhaps it was the message many of us needed this week 🙂
I like how The Message can make you see a familiar passage in a fresh way. We really are bankrupt without love and I like how you point out that we need to know God’s love in our hearts so that we can keep on loving others even when it is hard.
Carly, every now and then I look at an unfamiliar version so I don’t skim over familiar words. May our hearts be filled with the love of God so we are able to keep on loving those around us. Blessings!
Never give up – and team work is best. When the hecklers came and made fun of their wall, they replied they were just too busy to come down and make comments.
I like the thought that without love we are bankrupt. Now that is a new thought.
Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
Hazel, I am so glad you added that they had no time to respond to the hecklers. So true! May we realize that not every comment demands a response. I am so glad you stopped and shared! Blessings!