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Monday, May 23, 2011
Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but it seems to me that we’ve been hearing an awful lot about the body of Christ lately. Of course it’s always a good thing to be reminded of any Biblical truth, but I personally believe it’s equally important for us to hear the whole truth and not just a small portion of it (John 16:13). That is, rather than only being told that your part in the body of Christ lades you with the responsibility of ministering to those in need and donating money to overseas mission work, we should also remember that it blesses us with the fellowship and encouragement of other believers during those times when we simply can’t make it on our own.
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”-Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10
It has never God’s intent for you to be alone (Genesis 2:18). If you get discouraged or angry or sorrowful, there’s a good chance you’re just going to stay that way without someone to cheer you up and help you move forward again. That’s actually why the New Testament writers placed such an emphasis on Christian believers fellowshipping and exhorting one another in the faith: not only do we have more power when stand together (Ecclesiastes 4:12), but we are less likely to fall when we have others around to help catch us.
As Brandon Heath so wonderfully puts it in one of his songs, nobody is meant to be an island. Being stuck out in the middle of the ocean with nobody to encourage or be encouraged by is about as far from God’s plan for you as you can get. After all, what does it matter how much you’re able to accomplish on your own if there’s nobody to share the joy with when you’re finished?
7 comments:
We always need someone to help and build us up. If and when we fall if we have someone else they will always help us get back up and we need to help them. We always need to fellowship with other Christians to help us keep strong in the world of today. You have a great post today like always. Blessings to you.
It's interesting.. I've been noticing that everything works together as one unit in nature. Trillions of molecules make up what we see today. Millions of living cells work together for life. Even something like a bunch of leaves on a tree or thousands of tiny grains of sand. It's all individual units working together as one.
-Zachary
Great post. Very encouraging and inspiring. God bless you!
That's a great post, Dakota! Thank you for sharing! As Christians, we need each other and that's why it's so important the body of Christ sticks together. God bless you!
This was a very good post for me to read. Thank you for sharing.
God bless you!
Frannie
I am echoing what everyone else has said in that this is a great post. Christians these days need to understand that fellowshipping with other believers is crucial in the long run when building a community of solid believers.
A guest pastor preached at our church last Sunday and he preached on this same exact topic. He told us a story of this one woman, who stayed at home from church because she listened to her favorite pastor preach her favorite sermons. She also listened to her favorite worship cd with her favorite worship music. How sad is that? She is not gaining any fellowship that way at all and the church does nothing about it.
A membership attendance sheet would solve our problems. But, if we have to go that far, there is a serious problem. How do we keep the body of Christ together and continuing to come to church each Sunday for fellowship? I think it may have to come down to the elders. Set up each elder in the church with a group of people (not too big) in order that a specific elder can hold his group accountable. Call them up, exhort them. If they are not coming to church, ask them why they have not attended church the past couple of weeks. I don't know. I have some ideas, but as you said fellowshipping is a significant part of keeping the body of Christ held together during the difficult times and the good times.
Great post!
In Christ,
Joshua :)
I agree with everything here Dakota. I have often been puzzled at those Christians who freely admit, they do not go to church, regularly. Many have allowed a bad experience of a particular church to put them off.
As followers of Christ we need to follow His example. It states in the scriptures, that Christ went to the synagogue AS WAS HIS CUSTOM. It also states we should not forget the assembling of ourselves.
Are we true followers or not!!
Great post
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