Parker Inspirations

Matthew 5:46-48 “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Being friendly and greeting everyone in the Church is a great way for a Church to be. However, this verse ask the question, “if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?” We have to be very careful that we do not spend time with our closest friends and only be friendly to others. The people of the Church can see if we are genuinely friendly or not.

People are very observant of those who are in leadership. Unfortunately, they put them under a magnifying glass and see all the little things. How the leadership treat each other versus how they treat others. We have to be careful not to be one way with our close friends and another with others. Our relationship with our close friends should not be more important while we are at Church.  When we are at church we should be going the extra mile with those who are growing in faith and making them feel loved.

I love being around my friends and talking to them. However, at Church our ministry is the people. I try to get around the sanctuary and greet the people. I want them to know it is good to see them at Church. My husband is great at doing that. I have to work on it and not get stuck talking to someone. Staying focused on the people around us who are still growing and helping them feel like they belong, is what we need to do.

Another observation is how the people see us with each other. Leadership should be the most loving toward each other. This love should then spill over to the people around us. It all goes hand in hand. If we have a problem with one another it will hurt our ministry to those who are watching us. Church time is not the time to take care of problems. After Church or another day is best.

Let us not just salute our friends only.