“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” — Romans 1:11-12
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Athletes in all sports depend on the assistance of others from time to time. That could be a fellow teammate, coach, training staff or even a medical rescue. Though no athlete wishes for it, a medical emergency could happen at any moment. A leg may get broken when a player hits the floor after a rebound, so the training staff will run out on the court. In that moment of crisis, the personnel must know exactly how to handle the leg. They must also know when to call an ambulance and how to administer CPR if a player, coach or even somebody in the bleachers experiences a heart attack or stroke symptoms. Until such an event happens, we don’t always appreciate the trained professionals on site who are prepared to rescue someone at a moment’s notice.
As we read the New Testament, we see new believers and Christian leaders with strong faith and determination, but we also see their need for one another. In Paul’s missionary travels, he probably worked harder than anybody, but he didn’t accomplish anything alone. Throughout his writings, he emphasized the need to help one another in our service for God. On several occasions, the apostle listed men and women who sacrificed and assisted to further the spread of the Gospel.
For example in Acts 16, Lydia allowed Paul to conduct church services in her home. In doing so, she risked her life and promoted Paul’s work in a wonderful way. “When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us” (Acts 16:15). She showed hospitality to the mission team, and also provided a place for worship at a time when church buildings weren’t built yet, since churches were new and not fully established. She was needed for the mission.
Even though Paul was a mighty warrior in the work of the Lord, he depended on the great value of every believer who assisted in various ways to encourage the expansion of Christianity. “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:11-12). Paul knew he wasn’t in it alone. And not only that, he needed the help and encouragement of others’ faith and actions.
May we never be so proud that we reject the help and encouragement of others. We will accomplish much more when we let others walk with us. As the saying goes, “We’re better together.”
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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