9.21.9 "No Man Left Behind"

"No Man Left Behind"

Isaiah 37:1-38:22
Galatians 6:1-18
Psalm 64:1-10
Proverbs 23:24

We are in a battle. The great news is that we win! We too often forget that, especially when things don't seem to be going good around us. In battle soldiers get wounded. This is no different in our Christian walk. Soldiers get wounded.

I believe it's the Marine motto that says, "Until they are home, No man left behind!" They've trained to follow through on what they believe. At any cost, they will work to bring a fallen soldier home.

As believers, what's our training? What's our motto? In the battle we wage, we must show the same loyalty and commitment. In looking at this let's unwrap some verses in Galatians 6.

Galatians 6:1 "Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong."

There are a few things to pull out of this verse.
1. "if a Christian is overcome by some sin..." There will times that a Christian you know will struggle with sin. What does that mean to you? Often we don't respond as one committed to the care of the individual. We tend to want to check with someone else. "So what's going on with Jim... someone should really set him straight..." What follows next shows that YOU are part of the process in helping this person out.

2. "... you who are godly..." If you need extra motivation for living a godly life, let this be it. Your world is desperate for you to be who God has created you to be. Raise the bar in your life so you can be a lifeline for someone else. It's really important that you know the Word, so you know how to help someone who needs help. Imagine an EMT who waits until his first ambulance call to pull the book off the shelf & learn CPR. You have to be prepared & pre-prayered for the work God has for you. Someone desperately needs you.

3. "... should gently and humbly help him..." This is what discipleship is all about: Helping one another to be aligned with God's word. What's your definition of discipleship? I'm not sure how I came up with my "old" definition of discipleship, but it was basically, "punishing someone for not being who I expected them to be". I would "speak the truth in love" which usually meant I would give them a piece of my mind and walk away. If I didn't have the courage to do that, I'd just do that in my mind... I guess it's more of a "ding & ditch discipleship" program... not quite what Jesus had in mind. I'm just beginning to understand the process of "leading individuals to discover and become who God created them to be." It's the approach we need to have when dealing with one another... gentle & humble. Ultimately, be a friend.

4. "... back onto the right path," What is the right path? Again, it compels us to be Empowered through Biblical Training to know the truth and help others align to the truth. This requires relational leadership. To be a leader in a relationship, you have to create an environment where people want to be with you. The same is true when leading someone to the right path. Beating someone up when they're wounded and in the wrong place is not that way to bring them home. It's a matter of creating an environment of trust.

5. "... remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong." This says a lot. I was thinking about opinionated people (of which I am one!). It's important that we make sure we understand we are not above being wrong. "I get irritated when everyone doesn't do things the way I think they should be done." can be an attitude that creeps into our life that is nothing other than arrogance. We must walk humbly with our God, knowing that we always have much to learn.

Galatians 6:2 "Share each other's troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord's command."

1. "Share each other's troubles and problems..." This is what Relationships Devoted to Unity is all about. When someone is going through something, it's vital that we carry the load together.

2. "... and so obey our Lord's command." Remember that Obedience is the highest form of worship. We must follow the path of unity to live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship.

Galatians 6:3 "If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody."

1. This is a principle we need to be constantly reminded of. Greatness in Christ is found in being the "least". Our pride keeps us from being vulnerable. Being humble and open about our struggles is the only path to maturity. We are a "nobody" when our pride causes us to hide or struggles, sins or insecurities to the point that they take root and cause a BIG problem. This paralyzes the Body. When we are appropriately vulnerable with one another, it's like allowing the oxygen of the Holy Spirit to flow freely through the muscles of the Body so it can function in health.

Today's reading in Psalms 65:2-4 says, "All of us must come to you. Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all. What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple."

We need to work together until all come together to the one who forgives and enjoy the festivities of God's kingdom.

Do your part. "No Man left behind"


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ