The story is told about Claria Knall, a young mother from Oklahoma who writes: “It was one of the worst days of my life. The washing machine broke down, the telephone wouldn’t stop ringing my head ached and the mailman brought a bill I had no money to pay. Almost at the breaking point I lifted my one year old into the high chair, leaned my head against the tray and began to cry. Without a word my son took his pacifier out of his mouth and stuck it into mine.” From the time were born we know people need love and need to be cared for and the church ought to be a place where the deepest love and the deepest caring for each other is real.
Isn’t that the truth? Our church family is to be a place of healing, encouragement and support. In John’s gospel, chapter 13:34-35 Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
My friends, healthy Christian fellowship meets our need for reinforcement. Sometimes when you’re out in the world with your convictions you can start feeling like you’re all alone or like you’re the only one who wants to follow Jesus. It is a struggle to live our Christian life. That’s why we need our church family. Amen?
King Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! So, my encouragement today for all of us is: Stay connected to your church family, be involved and develop relationships. Someone has said, “A group of logs burns brighter that one log by itself. Amen!