Ecclesiastes 4:9 says that, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.” I think this could be the beauty of the church.
When the church is functioning properly your strength makes up for my lack, and my strength makes up for yours. One of the greatest joys that I have known is the fellowship of the saints. I pray for the body of saints that God so sovereignly, yet tenderly placed me in. I pray that believers everywhere come to know the joy that can only be experienced when the saints of God come together with one chief end — to glorify Christ.
“We should not … think of our fellowship with other Christians as a spiritual luxury, an optional addition to the exercises of private devotion. We should recognize rather that such fellowship is a spiritual necessity; for God has made us in such a way that our fellowship with himself is fed by our fellowship with fellow-Christians, and requires to be so fed constantly for its own deepening and enrichment.”
– J.I Packer quoted by Jerry Bridges in True Fellowship, page 18.
If I am only by myself, I may come under the impression that I have no flaws. It’s only when I come in contact with others, that I realize, exactly how flawed I truly am and what I need to work on. Others have an amazing way of bringing the heat on and bringing my spiritual “pimple” to a head. This yucky analogy is more accurate than not, because the infection that lies under the skin is much like the infection that lies in the depths of my soul.
This is the beauty of the inter-connectiveness within the body of Christ; as we pray for one another, we build one another up in love, strengthen our brothers and sisters and ourselves “…Everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
And thanks for your prayers Christina.
“It is not good for the man to be alone.” Gen 2:18