Weekly Devotional

 Cheer for Christ

 Recently, my daughter tried out for cheerleading at her school. The sponsors stressed that the goal of a cheerleader is to encourage your team, be a Christian example for your peers, and represent your school with integrity and pride. She was told throughout the clinic that while cheering on her team, she had to smile constantly and be loud. Her jumps and cheer motions had to be performed a certain way in order to be unified with the squad for a common goal.

 I thought about the correlation with the church. Are we cheerleaders for Christ and our fellow Christians? Are we encouragers? Who is our team? Acts 11:26 states, "So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Acts 9:31 states, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord."

 We as Christians should encourage each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 says, "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

and all the more when some members of our team are struggling. What are we supposed to do when a fellow Christian stumbles or drops the ball so to speak? 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 says, "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else."

 Are we perfect? Do we all live perfect lives? Romans 3:22-24 tells us "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

 What should be the demeanor of a Christian? John 3:28-30 says, "You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.'The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less."

 Can we cheer each other on with a scowl or a somber affect? Can we encourage each other in song if we are not singing? Ephesians 5:18-20 tells us, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

 How do we get others excited about Christ? Psalm 47:1-2 says, "Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.  How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!" We must do our best to live our lives with integrity and pride to belong to Christ. We must spend time telling others about God's marvelous grace. We must share with them the hope that we have in Christ and we should live in such a way that others want the spirit that we possess. I pose a question to ask ourselves: If I met me would I want to be a Christian based on my attitude, demeanor, and example?

 We should also be unified in the church. One way Christ established for us to maintain our bond with other Christians, is that he built the church. We are to spend time eating together, gathering on the first day of the week and encouraging one another. We should preach Christ crucified in order to grow. We should sing praises to God, pray to Him and thank Him for all of the blessings in our lives.

 What is our common goal? Heaven. John 3:16 promises us that "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." We, as Christians, look forward to eternal life with our God and our Savior. We look forward to eternal life with all of our Christian brothers and sisters that we cheered on in our earthly life and with those who cheered us on as well. What a wonderful day that will be! Let us be cheerleaders for Christ: Loud, smiling, and unashamed.

 "That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:15-17

 

May God bless your week. Margie