Daily devotion – alongside..
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Many people dismiss Church today as unimportant and unnecessary to be a faithful follower of Christ. But such a concept is tragically unbiblical and such alienation leads to spiritual atrophy and selfishness.
God has placed us in His body the Church, the Apostle Paul tells us plainly in Ephesians 2: 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
One of the true blessings of faithfully and actively being part of the body of Christ the Church is that God gives us the privilege to be able to celebrate with brothers and sisters in Christ when a blessing comes their way. A marriage, the birth of a child, or seeing them serve God to all His glory. We can share in their joy!
But equally, when grief or tragedy comes to a brother or sister in Christ, a door is made open whereby we can come alongside, weep and provide support as God leads us. Times of a death in the family, or a falling away in a relationship, a severe illness.
But this can only happen as we cast aside our own selfish ways, our own self-importance and instead, Philippians 2: .. but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Phl 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
All this is a lead up to what Heaven will be like and it will be amazing!
If you have isolated yourself away from Church, turn to God and repent and He will open the door for you to be alongside….in victory and in hurt. To be a blessing to someone in a way that only God could enable you to do.