What does community have to do with perseverance? How do friends help us keep going in our journey with God? These are important questions as we wrestle this week with how we press on in life’s difficult times.
In Galatians chapter 6 we read this:
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
There is clearly some relationship between sin, carrying burdens, the “law” or way of Jesus, and friendship. Perhaps the connection is not hyper-spiritual but super-practical. I’d contend that it is, and encourage you in this: get together with friends, share your burdens, confess your shortcomings, and watch strength arise.
In so doing, we are living out the model of love for the church. We need not over-spiritualize everything. Maybe we just need to hang out with friends and talk openly about the important stuff in our lives. We need to listen to one another. Then we offer input and support. And, lo and behold, we find ourselves more free, more alive, more able to persevere.
Sometimes the ways of God are not all that mysterious – and we should walk in them. Let us walk with friends this week.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Joel
Joel Searby
