11/11/2018
When you gave your life to Christ, did you become a changed person? Did you join with all those who had come before you in reestablishing your life, and allowing Jesus to give you a fresh start? Did you follow Jesus into a righteous and holy life of worshipping God with a His saints? We are meant to leave behind those things that once defined us and become like Christ... Godly, righteous, Holy. Are you wandering alone?
“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
Colossians 3:9-11 ESV
What gives us the strength to succeed at things we have never been able to accomplish before? What helps an addict kick their addiction? What changes the way we speak, act, perceive the world, treat other people? It is most certainly the Word of God, but also our uniting in it such that we strengthen each other continually.
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17 ESV
Helping each other to become Christlike, and to following the commandments of God is imperative. There is much wisdom in the old sayings that “Together we stand, but divided we fall”, in the motto of the three musketeers “one for all, and all for one”, or He reassurance of Jesus in the scripture which reads...
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."”
Matthew 18:20 ESV
Jesus strengthens us, changes us, and gives us those things that renew us in faith, and when we model ourselves after Him, then we do those same things for one another. Listen to Paul as he writes in Romans..
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.”
Romans 1:11-12 ESV
Alone our lives might change somewhat, but together we are much more than the one, and our lives in Christ are made stronger. One of us might seek to follow our faith, but two of us seeking faith together will insure that we are both on the path of righteousness.
My mother always taught me to choose my friends wisely, and told me that I was known by the company I kept. That was a valuable lesson, but one I had to learn the hard way on more than one occasion. Choosing rowdy and sinful friends will drag you into a sinful life just as certainly as righteous friends will lift you up and help you lead a righteous life. There is no mystery here... just simple human nature, and little did I know at the time that her wisdom was of biblical origin...
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Proverbs 12:26 NKJV
So we leave behind our old life of sin, and catch hold of a new life in Jesus. We leave behind friends that once led us astray, and make righteous new friends. We lean not on our own understanding, but let the Holy Spirit lead us in knowledge and understanding of God’s Holy Word. We gather together so that Jesus might meet us there, and strengthen us. New is our life, and it is refreshed every day. God restores our soul!
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”
Psalms 23:1-3 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for realizing that man is not meant to be alone, and not only giving wives to husbands, and husbands to wives, but for providing us with faithful friends that help us in our quest for righteousness, and holiness. Thank you Holy Father for the promise Jesus made that where two or more of us are gathered together, that there He is also. Help us Lord as we strive to change our lives! Strengthen us as we throw off our old sinful nature, and turn to you. You are my strength and my shield Father, and as I stand shoulder to shoulder with your saints I am stronger than I am alone... shoulder to shoulder, shield to shield, you strengthen me in your Word, and loving kindness. Place me in the company of your saints Lord, and allow them to become my multiplier in faith. Holy, Holy, Holy are you who rules the multitude and sets it together as one before you... ever strong, ever righteous, ever praising you, ever singing of your glory. Praised be your name always, and forever.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.”
Psalms 28:7-8 ESV
Rich Forbes