Oh Biscuits!

Scripture

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

Reflection

On Father's Day, I decided to make my husband his favorite breakfast: biscuits and gravy. The only problem? He's now gluten-free, and I am firmly riding the struggle bus when it comes to gluten-free baking. Bread, in particular, has been my arch-nemesis. I've gotten better over time, but biscuits? Those were uncharted territory.

So I enlisted my trusty ChatGPT to help me make biscuits that wouldn't double as hockey pucks. When I pulled them out of the oven, they barely rose and definitely weren't the fluffy clouds of Southern perfection I had imagined. That's when ChatGPT told me something that made me laugh:

"Southern biscuit bakers will fight me on this, but biscuits baked shoulder to shoulder help support each other and rise higher."

I laughed because, honestly, I wasn't thinking about the biscuits anymore.

One of the clearest principles in Scripture is that we are called to love one another. Love our neighbors. Love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Love others the way Christ first loved us.

Is it easy? Not even a little.

Will people disagree with you? Oh, absolutely.

But that doesn't change the calling.

God never intended for us to walk this life alone. He designed the Church to stand shoulder to shoulder—encouraging one another, praying for one another, correcting one another in love, and reminding each other whose we are. When we isolate ourselves, we don't just miss out on fellowship; we miss out on the support that helps us grow.

Just like those biscuits, we're stronger together. We rise higher when we stand shoulder to shoulder than when we try to do it all on our own.

So, if we want to be fluffier biscuits for the Lord... maybe we should stop spreading ourselves so far apart.

Prayer

Lord,

Give me the courage and the discernment to share Your love with everyone, not just the people who are easy to love. Help me to stand shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters in Christ, even when it's uncomfortable or difficult.

Thank You for loving us so completely that You gave Your only Son so we could be saved. Help us remember that we weren't created to compete with one another or tear each other down, but to encourage one another, lift each other up, and point each other toward You.

Teach us to love as You love, to forgive as You forgive, and to stand together so that we can all grow stronger in our faith.

In the precious name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Practice

This week, intentionally stand shoulder to shoulder with someone.

Maybe it's sending an encouraging text, praying with a friend, checking on someone who's been on your mind, sitting with the person who's alone, or offering help without being asked.

And if you're the one feeling like a flat little gluten-free biscuit this week, don't be afraid to lean on someone else. God often lifts us through the people He places beside us.

Let's help each other rise.