I was sharing with those who assumed I won my best friend to Christ, that it was he who won me to Christ. For three years he befriended me before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. His unchanging friendship and encouragement, even during my darkest times, helped carry me through. A key to my salvation is he never gave up on me.
We often find ourselves determined to reach out and help someone we know who is in great need. But when we fail to see improvement right away, our resolve can weaken and we may eventually give up. We discover that what we hoped would be immediate change has become an ongoing process. The apostle Paul urges us to be patient in helping one another through the stumbles and struggles of life. When he writes, “Carry each other’s burdens” and so “fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2), he is comparing our task to the work, time, and waiting it takes for a farmer to see a harvest.
How long should we keep praying and reaching out to those we love? “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). How many times should we reach out? “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (vs 10).
Be encouraged and trust the Lord today to remain faithful to others, to keep on praying, and not give up!
Pastor Ramon
Lead Pastor NSC
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