SCRIPTURE:
“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
Romans 1:11-12
OBSERVATION:
Paul understood the importance of relationships. He saw the power that came from being in community with others. He speaks of giving, but also of receiving. He knew that just as he could fill someone else’s faith tank, that he could also be filled from another as well.
APPLICATION:
We were never meant to do this life alone. I believe God created us to be in fellowship and in community with one another. We need each other.
During one of the toughest seasons of my life, I remember trying to get through it all alone. I told myself “You can do this. Just read your Bible and go to Church, you’ll be just fine.”
I wasn’t.
The more I tried to do it on my own, the harder it got. This plan failed miserably. Isolation is a sneaky tactic that the enemy uses. The negative voices got louder and louder and I knew I needed to get around brothers in Christ, whose voices would speak God’s truth to me.
I surrounded myself with brothers who would speak The Word of God to me. I got around brothers who would tell me what I needed to hear and not what I wanted to hear. I spent time with brothers that would encourage me and fill my faith tank.
Just as they would fill me, I would find myself doing the same for them. What were we doing? We were mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. It’s something that I find myself still doing to this day.
PRAYER:
Father Almighty. Forgive me Lord for times when I thought I could do it all alone – I can’t. I need You and I need those You have put around me. Thank You for the community of believers that You have placed me in. As others speak life to me and encourage my faith, may I do the same, this I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
