Build Others Up

 DAILY DEVOTION MCZ MISSION DEPARTMENT

Philemon 1:8-9

*[8]Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,*

*[9]yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you —being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—*

*Build others up*

As believers, we are urged to appeal to brethren so that they turn to Christ more and more and to empathise with the situation of others. Paul was appealing to brethren to accept Onesimus as a brother who had repented from his unacceptable behaviour. Sometimes we have to stand and encourage the acceptance of a repentant fellow believer with love. 

We must not stand in the way of those who turn back to us for encouragement and uplifting, lest we cause them to stumble again. We must admonish with love and at the same time not condemn. We all stumble once in a while, but we must not remain fallen. God accepts those who get up after they have fallen rather than those who want to be accepted in their fallen state. The act of repentance must be encouraged and those who fall must continue to be urged to stand and continue on in the journey placed before them by Christ.

*Prayer*

Oh Lord help me to be a source of strength for others. May I be accepting of repenting brethren as I too need support from brethren. Build compassion in my heart so that I may be a true disciple of Christ in all that I do..Amen