Sharing Together
Bible Reading: Galatians 6:1-3
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Since we have worked through the Twelve Steps, we are in a special position to carry the message to others. We can recognize the warning signs of addictive/compulsive tendencies in those around us, as well as in ourselves. When touching on such deep and sensitive issues it's important to speak in the language of love, not condemnation.
The Bible tells us that if someone "is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1-2). The command was the one Jesus taught his disciples: "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other" (John 13:34). "This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends" (15:12-13).
We are not the Savior, but we can love others as he has loved us. Love goes beyond mere words. Sometimes it is spoken in silence, when we don't condemn someone who's looking for help. Love doesn't just tell them what the problem is. It helps carry the weight of their burdens. We can be a part of a support network to help carry our friends until they are able to take steps toward recovery on their own initiative.
Sharing our own recovery will remind us of our need for others.
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Taken from The Life Recovery Devotional: Thirty Meditations from Scripture for Each Step in Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Copyright © 1991 by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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