(The following is the October 18 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Hebrews 3 and pay close attention to verses 12-13.)
God did not create humans to live in isolation. He declared about the first man, Adam, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him” (Gen. 2:18), and he made the first woman, Eve. King Solomon wrote, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up” (Eccl. 4:9-10).
When Jesus sent out 72 disciples to towns and places he was about to go, he sent them in pairs ahead of him (Luke 10:1). Following Pentecost, we read of the early Christians that “the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common” (Acts 4:32). Hebrews acknowledges this mutual dependence: “Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception” (vv. 12-13).
Christians need each other. God never intended us to walk this lifelong journey of growing in holiness alone. We need to encourage and pray for each other, pick one another up when we fall, warn about Satan’s snares, and share the lessons God teaches us. Living in a faith community and relying on one another is not a weakness. It is how God intends for us to live. Doing so brings glory to him and allows us to start experiencing membership in the family of God that we will enjoy in his presence for eternity.
Next Step:
What fellow Christians do you know who may need encouragement in the faith? What action can you take to love and encourage them?
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