Post by tomdurst on Jun 16, 2006 13:06:34 GMT -5
WE JOURNEY TOGETHER IN LOVE
By Thomas E. Durst
By Thomas E. Durst
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New Living Translation)
9 Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. 11 And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Malachi 3:16 (New Life Version)
The Book To Be Remembered
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke often to one another, and the Lord listened to them. And the names of those who worshiped the Lord and honored Him were written down before Him in a Book to be remembered.
Matthew 18:19-20 (Contemporary English Version)
19 I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.
Acts 2:42 (New American Standard Bible)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (Amplified Bible)
24 And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to
watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, 25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
1 John 1:7 (New Life Version)
7 If we live in the light as He is in the light, we share what we have in God with each other. And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, makes our lives clean from all sin.
These verses of scripture are very precious indeed as well as challenging. They highlight the simple fact that we need one another very much in the spiritual journey. None of us is an island all to ourselves. Fellowship can take many forms such as one on one, small groups, or organized churches. For many of us it is some combination of these. In every case Jesus is there with us in some mysterious way that we can experience but can’t explain nor should we try to.
As in every other area of our lives, we must be led by the Holy Spirit in our fellowship with others on the spiritual path (Romans 8:14). If we sincerely seek God’s guidance in this regard we will find just where we should be. Such things as fellowship and what form it should take are very personal and must be worked out prayerfully by each person.
We do indeed live in very perplexing and troubled times. Let's encourage and uplift others in every possible way. We cannot give without receiving for indeed they are one and the same thing.
For additional thoughts on this topic read BREAKING DOWN RELIGIOUS BARRIERS on the link below:
BREAKING DOWN RELIGIOUS BARRIERS
