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I Can’t Do This Alone – Part II

Dr. I. David Byrd February 15, 2020

 

Often times in worship we sing songs that say, “All I need is Jesus” and while it is sung out of a heart that means well, it’s actually not biblical. He created us to be part of a community.

 

In Part 1 we discussed the need for a close friend. Today we will look at the force multiplier, being in community. A community is a group of people we lean on when times are tough – our friends, family, neighbors and church members; People who are there for us when we need love, support and encouragement. As human beings, we need a sense of belonging, and that sense of belonging is what connects us to the many relationships in community. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of the Beloved Community which isn’t just based on proximity but purpose. The point of community isn’t just to connect; it’s to move forward together by trusting God’s plan in the midst of our circumstances. That is why Jesus takes the fatherly tone of authority when He says in the Bible:

 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

 

The church is meant to be the refuge for those who are hurt, a place where people come to have their spiritual, emotional and physical needs met. For the grieving, grief is the 24/7 awareness of the tragedy that’s befallen him or her. More and more children are growing up in broken homes, unemployment is on the rise, people are sinking deeper into debt and struggling to make ends meet. The church is where believers receive all the “one anothers” of scripture. Receiving the love of others is evidence of God’s love for us and living in us.

 

 

According to scripture, there is no such thing as a churchless Christian. God chose the Israelites to be his people. “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:12). They lived and worshipped him together in community. Following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, God then instituted the church, the Body of Christ as a community of believers. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27). I admit it’s not easy. We sometimes hurt each other, families can be dysfunctional in so many ways! But God still uses us and His design is still the best design. His way is the best way. It works and accomplishes His purposes.

 

Father, I’m thankful to be part of Your family and part of the family of our local church. It is a blessing like no other and one You desire and command Your children to partake in. Help us to not miss out on this amazing blessing You want to give you. Break our hearts to be the support that encourages the hurting in our church and in our community.

 

Thank you for allowing me to speak into your life. Hey, spend a few moments of quiet time discovering your personal application of what you just read by clicking this link  myTime with God

 

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I Can’t Do This Alone – Part I

Dr. I. David Byrd  February 1, 2020

 

The Bible says, “He’ll never leave you nor forsake you.” You believe in His Word. It’s the guiding principle of your life. But when faced with a severe illness of a family member or a uncontrollable, devastating loss you can become “conflicted” in your faith. It may seem like the current state is too much to handle on your own. You are supposed to press on physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually but you are exhausted and overwhelmed. Your burdens seem to be crushing you. It’s when we’re weary, exhausted and struggling, that we often tend to shrink back and isolate ourselves. We privilege silence without even knowing it.

 

To surround ourselves with the fellowship we need, we must take the treacherous step to be real and open. We must allow close friends to support us in the midst of our circumstances. We often do not want to admit our need for help. We are taught from a young age that we should be independent; conditioned to believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness or failure. We struggle with pride and want to prove our ability in the eyes of the world. While this may be our mindset, it is not the mindset of Jesus.

 

Paul Tripp says in his book, Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy, “We weren’t created to be independent, autonomous, or self-sufficient. We were made to live in a humble, worshipful, and loving dependency upon God and in a loving and humble interdependency with others.”

 

I’m reminded that even Moses couldn’t do it alone. Exodus 17 tells the story of his friends having to hold up Moses arms to ensure victory for the Israelites.

 

“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,
but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him
and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side,
one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”
Exodus 17:11-12

 

Moses hears from God and understands the responsibility God has placed on him by simply holding his hands up. Aaron and Hur couldn’t take his place. They couldn’t do his job. But they could support him as he endured what God had called him to do. God designed us to need people for fellowshipping, helping, encouraging and supporting one another. Regardless of how much power we have, ultimately, we need someone else to lean on. Someone else to lift our hands up, someone else to encourage us as we journey through our circumstances.  Don’t try to go it alone.

 

Dear Lord, I never realized the stress that I was bringing upon myself by assuming that I was capable of handling problems on my own. I must learn to trust your way and accept that I can’t do it alone. Forgive me for trying to do things apart from community. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Thank you for allowing me to speak into your life. Hey, spend a few moments of quiet time discovering your personal application of what you just read by clicking this link  myTime with God