Holding On to Hope....

~Final part in Holding on to Hope (the 7-ups)

5-Circle up- Instead of slamming each other trying to live the Christian life on our own, God wants to keep us from division and strife. Since God bears with us, we must be willing to circle up with those who have fallen down, or are just different from us. God's heart is for the church to be united and to stand together....
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus." Romans 15:5
"Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him shoulder to shoulder." Zephaniah 3:9


6-Point up-The ultimate goal, or the reason why we are to bear with one another, is so that we can bring glory to God.
"So that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:6


7-Warm up-Some of us need to move toward some people we've moved away from. It's time to warm up instead of giving the cold shoulder or the icy glare.
"Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4