Ham: building up the members in love

Friday, September 6, 2013
    Commemoration of Allen Gardiner, founder of the South American Missionary Society, 1851
    Commemoration of Albert Schweitzer, Teacher, Physician, Missionary, 1965
Meditation:
    We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
    —Romans 15:1-2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The Christian Church does not want and does not need members because of a job it has to do. The Christian Church has a secret at her heart and she wants to share it. Whenever one, by repentance and forgiveness, enters this community of grace, he discovers life’s end, and he too will be constrained to let this life flow out in appropriate channels. Thrilling and costly projects will come into existence, but not as ends in themselves, and the group will not become a means to [such ends]. The group will never forget that one of its primary functions is to upbuild the members in love.
    ... William T. Ham, “Candles of the Lord”, in Spiritual Renewal through Personal Groups, John L. Casteel, ed., NY: Association Press, 1957, p. 182 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 15:1-2; Acts 20:32; 1 Cor. 8:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:1; Phil. 2:4; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Pet. 2:4-5
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, enable me to build up those You have placed me near. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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