Take Heed Lest Ye Fall

So then let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

A loving warning to every believer especially to those who devote most of their time to serve the Lord. When taking care of believers, the enemy is never happy, he's been fuming his anger, if possible, to do away with the shepherd as with the sheep. He has his job as roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8) all night and all day. So this warning, take heed lest ye fall.

The Lord has burdened me to shepherd a couple who's on the way to the church life. This couple loves the Lord very much, and their emotions so tender. They just called me if I could visit them and pray with them amidts my busy official duty. On second thought, I felt I should go as I felt the need from the Lord, to take care of the saints' feeling, to strike the iron when its still hot. Procrastinating would only cool them down and may miss the opportunity to minister Christ. I went and prayed together for certain specific matters, which even led them to tears. They were so happy and felt cherished with the human care and nourished with the corporate prayer. O what a joy indeed to mutually care for one another. We are human so we still need human care.

Later in the evening, after official duty, I had a home meeting with an old uncle whom the Lord has miraculously turned from communist ideology to Christ at his old age. The way to shepherd this uncle of my father's age is just to patiently give him an ear to hear what he has to say--whatever, and then I finally hit home the nourishing loving word of scheduling time for prayer, contacting the Lord, reading the word and translating the ministry books, and praying for the salvation of the entire household. That's a real cherishing to him.

Again, afterward, I went for a home meeting with a family who's been struggling in life, physically and spiritually. Among them was a brother who's been filled with confusions and doubts about the basic Christian faith. Having traveled the rough terrain of his Christian path, he had gathered many dusts all along. To him I just used the Bible as the only unique authority that confirms the Christian faith, not feelings or thinking. Objective knowledge of God has clouded his mind without any subjective experience, and that confuses him when what he knows does not match what he is experiencing. I refuted the truth about salvation by faith and the need for touching the Lord in his spirit where Christ is, by daily exercise of calling upon the Lord's Name, praying and eating the word with fellowshiping with the saints in the church. These visit really gave him a new beginning as he confessed he's been helped. May grace lead him through.

Having found grace and supplying strength from the Lord to cherish and nourish others, I myself need much more cherishing and nourishing in return. When shepherding others we are shepherded in return. And the enemy's vile intention is drawn to the uttermost. For it is a spiritual battle, I must be always on the alert. When shepherding others I need to take heed or lest I fall. This is what the Lord reminded. Take heed lest ye fall. Lord, make me heed that I may never fall.