Jump Start # 3436

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

A few years ago I was blessed to go on a trip to Israel. Amazing. Glad I was there then and not now. Seeing the places adds color and dimension to what you read in the Bible. We have a Jump Start book about my trip to Israel. If you would like one, just email me (Rogshouse@aol.com)

Of course, when you do a trip of a lifetime, one has to bring back souvenirs, both for self and others. I got a rock from the brook where David likely picked up his five smooth stones before he faced Goliath. I got some cuff links made from widow’s mite, the small coin that we read about in the Gospels. But my prize and joy is a small clay jar that looked like it held oil. It came from an antique dealer in Bethlehem. What he says is top notch, verified and authenticated with certificates dating how old the item was.

My little clay jar sits on a shelf in my office. I have the certificate with it dating that jar from 1850 B.C. 1850, in our country is old, but when you put a B.C. with that, it’s ancient.

When I purchased that little clay jar, I wrote out my address for the shop owner to ship it to my home. He declared, “I do not need your address. We do not ship. This jar is too fragile, too old and too expensive for us to ship. You must take it with you.” I wondered how are we were getting this home? We are in Israel. We must fly to different airports, switch planes, go through security. My little jar will never make it.

We stuck the jar inside several pairs of socks and put the socks inside a shoe and hoped for the best. My little jar made it home safely. But that experience taught me a great lesson about people.

First, we are fragile and expensive. And, unless we take care of one another, we will crack and hurt each other. The little digs and comments we often say can chip and hurt friendships and fellowships. Some can say the cruelest things. Some have no filter on their mouths. And, they dismiss what they have done by saying, “I was only teasing.” Some don’t know that. Some don’t like to be teased. If I dropped my little clay jar, I’m sure I could superglue the big pieces back together, but it would never be the same. And, so it is with relationships. We can always say that “we are sorry,” but there is only so much that can be done and often those hurt feelings are never repaired.

Second, even in speaking the truth, it needs to be delivered in kindness, love and hope. The goal is not to have the last word. The goal is not to say, “I told him so.” The goal in corrective conversations is to help someone be better. Our words go down a lot easier if we said a prayer first and put some kindness to our tone. It’s like whip cream on pumpkin pie—it just makes it all that much better. Harsh words are like rubbing the fur on a cat the wrong way. One can say things without being harsh. Correct with gentleness is a common theme in the N.T. Some seem to have forgotten that.

Third, not everyone is like me and not everyone is like you. We are all sensitive in different areas of our lives. You can go up to one guy and say, “Man, that shirt is ugly on you.” He might laugh and even agree with you. Someone else may run home in tears and never come back. Think of people like my little clay jar. Our friendships are fragile. Our fellowship is important. And, I’d expect more people have walked away from a congregation not because of what was said from the pulpit, but rather what was said between the pews after services were over.

Not every has the same needs as I do. Not everyone has the same background as I do. Not everyone is at the same place spiritually as I am. Because something doesn’t bother me, is not an indication that everyone else feels the same. It may bother them.

We need to wrap our fellowship carefully and tuck it in something secure and protect it. Love one another is sprinkled throughout the N.T. And, the way we do this the best is to:

• Be patient with each other. Some like to dominate a conversation. Some don’t know a short story. Some have a hard time getting to the point. Be patient.

• Be thoughtful with each other. Make a person feel comfortable with you. Putting a smile at the beginning of a conversation can sure change the tone and atmosphere and attitude of a person.

• Be supportive and defensive of your fellowship. The church is your family. You would not trash talk your physically family—not to others and not on social media. Love those people. Get to know those people. Help those people. These are your people.

My old clay jar sits safely on my self. It made it home from Israel because I protected it and did all I could to bring it home that way. And, my friends are just like that. I do all that I can to protect our relationship so we can all be brought home safely.

Can we do better with strengthening our fellowship?

Roger