Man is not an island. We are not intended to “go it alone.”
We were made for fellowship. Fellowship with the Father and fellowship with others.
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Teresa
I believe that our destinies are intertwined in our relationships with others.
God created us with the need for relationships/fellowship.
We are here to cultivate our relationship with Him first and foremost. Jesus even refers to Himself as our Friend.
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” John 15:15 NIV
But we are also to come alongside each other as we develop our relationship with Him.
And we need to encourage one another to use our God-given gifts and talents.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24
In fact, if these two areas, divine purpose and sacred friendships, are lacking in our lives, I believe we will feel an emptiness. And instead of lives of depth, vibrancy & color, they will be shallow, dull, and gray.
A metaphor that I think of many times is of God as the Grand Maestro of a heavenly orchestra.
We are the instruments in His orchestra.
As we play (use) the talent He gave us, coming alongside others using their gifts, we will make music in which we help people “see” and “hear” God!
And, yes, we can play amazing solos.
But when we come together with no envy or pride—just with the goal of glorifying God in using our gift / talent and experiencing the joy in doing so…we have stepped one foot into heaven while still living on this earth.
So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. Romans 12:6 The Message Bible
Yep. There it is. We’ve got God’s Word on it.
Share your gift. Your passion. His love in you, expressing itself through your gift, your talent.
And come alongside others who are doing the same.
Make beautiful music together for the glory of the Lord.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thesssalonians 5:11
Take heart my friend, we’ll go together
This uncertain road that lies ahead
Our faithful God has always gone before us
And He will lead the way once again
Take heart my friend, we can walk together
And if our burdens become too great
We can hold up and help one another
In God’s love, in God’s grace
Take heart my friend, the Lord is with us
As He has been all the days of our lives
Our assurance every morning
Our defender in the night
If we should falter when trouble surrounds us
When the wind and the waves are wild and high
We will look away to Him who rules the waters
Who spoke His peace into the angry tide
He is our comfort, our sustainer
He is our help in time of need
And when we wander He is our shepherd
He who watches over us, never sleeps
Take heart my friend, the Lord is with us
As He has been all the days of our lives
Our assurance every morning
Our defender in the night
Lyrics to Fernando Ortega Song, “Take Heart My Friend”
(For a boost of inspiration and to feel His love, and love for our friends, listen to this song while reading this intro!)