DIG for Wednesday the 7th of October…..don’t be a pootie all your life…..Hebrews 10 v 24

Up here in the north-east of Scotland we have a rather unusual name for a baby bird, we call it a “pootie”.

A pootie just sits in the nest all day with its beak open, squawking to be fed; they eat and eat, draining the resources of the parent birds, giving nothing back.

I have to be honest and say we seem to have pooties in the church as well!

Some people come and receive and receive, and never give anything back.

Yesterday I wrote about living out James 5 v 16, saying that Christianity is not a solo occupation; I am continuing on the same thread toady saying it is also not only about receiving but about giving.

Church fellowship is a two way process; yes it is there for us to receive, but it is also there for us to give.

We are here to encourage one another, to provoke each other to love and good works (Hebrews 10 v 24).

We are encouraged to gather as church (a body of believers) in Hebrews, we are encouraged not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10 v 25).

We go to church to be blessed, I agree with that, but we should also have the mentality that church s a place to go to bless others.

Staying away from church is silly, but it is also selfish; it is silly as you will miss out on blessings but it is selfish, as you will also miss out on being a blessing to others.

Next time you gather as church, be it in a church building or house or wherever, consider how you can be a blessings as well as being blessed, ask yourself how you can give as well as receive.

What I am trying to say is consider not being a pootie!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you set in place the local church as the institution where we can go to be blessed and be a blessing”.

Hebrews 10 v 24…..And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works

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DIG for Tuesday the 6th of October…..Jesus didn’t take everybody up the mountain…..James 5 v 16

One thing I hate in church is wee cliques forming and shutting other people out, however in church and life in general we all need an intimate group of friends that we share trust and respect with.

We all need those special people that we can share openly and honestly with, people that we can listen to in return.

I believe that this is what is being spoken about in James 5 v 16.

This is about believers, with mutual, love, trust and respect getting together and sharing and caring for one another, talking about issues affecting their life and helping one another through.

This is about intimacy and openness, and I have to be honest and say that you do not do this with just anyone.

Even Jesus had what many would call on inner circle, where He seemed to be more intimate and open than with all people.

Jesus did not take all the disciples up the mountain to see His transfiguration.

Jesus did not let everyone lay with his head on His chest.

Jesus did have a small group within the disciples that He trusted more and spent more intimate time with.

If Jesus needed it, then we need it too.

I’ve often said that Christianity is not a solo occupation, normally in the context of the wider church family.

As well as the wider family we need an “inner circle” to share and car with; this is living out James 5 v 16.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for those people that you have put around me for mutual comfort, exhortation and edification”.

James 5 v 16…..Confess your faults one to another, and pray for another, that ye might be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much