Tag Archives: helping each other

October 20, 2025 · 5:43 AM

A Heart For Hospitality

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, my wife and I led mission trips through a ministry that builds orphanages. After each long, hot day in the sun, our team would meet at the end of the day to debrief, worship and have a devotional. One the first night there, the missionary asked our team, “Where did you see Jesus today?” It was quiet as people looked around, not sure what to say. Then he pointed at a member of our team and said how he saw Jesus as that person gave some of their water to a thirsty kid. Each night the same question was asked. As the week went on, more people answered pointing out how each had cared for someone in need.

In Matthew 25:31:46, Jesus told of how He will return one day and sit on His throne to judge. He will say to one group to sit at His right hand, “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me” (NLT). They didn’t understand or know when they had done that. Then He will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” They were giving mercy and compassion to those who needed it, but didn’t realize they were doing it to Jesus. They didn’t see Him in those they were helping.

Hebrews 13:1-2 says, “Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” You never know who God is putting in your path to have compassion on. Do you turn away when you see someone in need or do you see Jesus? Biblical compassion is being able to see Jesus in those who are less fortunate than us or are suffering, and to then be able to respond to them and their needs. You don’t have to go to a foreign country to find the least of these. You will see them every day if you open your eyes. Ask God to give you eyes to see and a heart to help.

Photo by natsuki on Unsplash

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May 31, 2024 · 5:35 AM

Being Together

In Exodus 17, while the Israelites were trekking through the wilderness, they were attacked by the Amalekites. Moses knew they needed the Lord’s help for victory, so he sent Joshua to take men to the battle while he went up a hill with Aaron and Hur. While Moses’ hands were raised, they we’re winning, but when he got tired and out them down, they began to lose. Aaron and Hur held Moses’ hand up until the battle was won. They gave a great representation why we need people in our lives around us. Even when God is fighting our battles, we need to be together with His people. Like God told Adam in the Garden, it’s not good to be alone. We need to be together for strength, encouragement, victory and more. Don’t try to face life alone. Get together with God’s people who will support you and hold you up the way Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms.

Here are some Bible verses on being together.

1. Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel.

Philippians 1:27 GNT

2. For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.

Matthew 18:20 AMP

3. Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT

4. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.

Hebrews 10:25 TPT

5. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

Thanks to Unsplash for the photo.

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April 3, 2024 · 5:44 AM

Removing The Mask

There’s a study that shows over 70% of people feel like they can’t be themselves at work. I wonder what that percentage is for people around their spouse or friends. My guess is it’s pretty high too. We wear these masks because we’re afraid to be vulnerable for fear that if they knew the real me, they wouldn’t like me. The problem is the less vulnerable we are with people, the more shallow the relationship. My closest friends pretty much know everything about me. They’ve seen my ugly side, they know my past and I’ve seen theirs as well. We’ve given each other space to be each other’s authentic self. We’ve given each other permission to be human and to remove the masks. Because we’ve done that, we are able to help each other with the burdens we typically try to hide. Those tend to be the heaviest.

I saw a video ad this week talking about the Apostle Paul. It talked about taking a tour of going where he lived and walked. It also promised to reveal the authentic Paul. It then ended with, “No one liked Paul.” I couldn’t help but think that wasn’t true. Paul was definitely his authentic self in front of people, but I know Barnabas and Timothy liked him. They had mutual respect for each other. Even though they disagreed, Paul and Barnabas patched things up. We know Timothy was vulnerable with Paul because paul encouraged him to not let anyone look down on him because of his youth. In 1 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul encouraged Timothy when Timothy didn’t feel like he was enough for the ministry. Paul reminded him of his calling. They helped each other with the burdens of ministry because they were real with each other.

Paul wrote in Galatians 6:2, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (NLT). The word “bear” meant to carry away, while the word “burdens” means weights. We can only carry the burdens of people who are able to take their masks off and share them with us. It’s also a command to us to do the same with others. It doesn’t just mean we carry theirs. It implies we must be willing to take our mask off and share what is weighing us down as well. When we are able to be this vulnerable and open we can truly love each other the way Christ commanded us to. Think about the masks you put on to keep people away from knowing the real you. That’s a burden all by itself. It’s time to find a true friend you can take the mask off with and let them share your weights. It’s also time you gave them permission to take their mask off too. Only then can we truly share each other’s burdens.

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk.

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