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 NIV
Ever looked out into a field and saw two horses standing parallel to one another, each one's head to the other's tail end? Tails swishing? They often stand in opposite directions (head-to-tail) while parallel, allowing one horse to use its tail to swat flies away from the other’s face. If given the time and opportunity, flies can deposit bacteria, larvae, and parasites in the horses' eyes. The two horses work as a team to protect one another.
God speaks through nature!
In Luke 10, Jesus sent seventy-two of his followers out two by two to go ahead of Him, healing the sick and preaching about the kingdom of God. Why in pairs? He knew that man or woman alone is vulnerable. Loneliness, doubts, and a constant flood of hostile questions and false truths can be like the buzzing of a thousand flies. When we're on our own, those things distract us and threaten our well-being. But when we pair with others, we can offer encouragement. We can remind one another of what Jesus taught and what Scripture says. We can uphold one another through hardships and heartaches, knowing that God loves us and will never abandon us. We can challenge each other to look for new ways to love and serve those around us. These are all ways to, Hebrews 10 says, "spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
May we take lessons from horses, and many other animals, and recognize the great benefit that comes from partnering with other believers for accountability, encouragement, and support as we seek to do the work the Lord has set before us.
Reflect: Are you facing struggles that you are attempting to handle on your own? How might partnering with another believer encourage you and help you to escape temptations and doubts?
Apply: Think of one new ministry or act of service you have been nervous to try on your own. Consider whose partnership might bring you the sense of comfort, accountability, and encouragement you need.
Connect with God: Lord Jesus, thank You for all the times the believers around me have supported me in my troubles and challenged me to follow You more wholeheartedly. I'm grateful for the gift of community.
"Aloneness can lead to loneliness. God's preventative for loneliness if intimacy- meaningful, open, sharing relationships with one another. In Christ we have the capacity for the fulfilling sense of belonging which comes from intimate fellowship with God and with other believers." - Neil T. Anderson
Francine Rivers and Karin Stock Buursma, Earth Psalms (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers Inc., 2016)
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