Thursday, July 14, 2022

Carry each other's burdens


Koinonia (coin-a-nee-a) - is a transliterated form of the Greek word κοινωνία, which refers to concepts such as fellowship, joint participation, the share which one has in anything, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution; the unity of the Spirit that comes from Christians' shared beliefs, convictions, and behaviors. 

Yesterday afternoon I had a phone conversation with a friend and sister in Christ. I'm not sure if it was casual conversation or a mutual agreeing of our deep seeded misery of being afraid and anxiety ridden about everything. 😫 Honestly, I think we are sisters separated at birth.

Galatians came alive during our conversation, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

We did just that. We listened to each other and many times our response was, "YES! YES!" as we related to each other's burdens.

See, those in Christ, like my friend and I, will air their concerns, commiserate with each other and eventually confess we already know the answer to our sin, to our lack of trust for our Sovereign God.

There is a turning to Christ and his word where we both know lies comfort, strength, courage, wisdom.

Fellowship is really a beautiful thing. Not only can we bring God's word alive in our conversations; it produces our mutual cooperation in God's worship, God's work, and God's will being done in the world. We both agreed that we know from where our help comes (Psalm 121). There's a working out. It's not about slapping a verse on like a band-aid and saying , "You'll be fine. Go play."

Scripture tells us many, many benefits of community and friendship and fellowship. 

Hebrews 10:25 commands us not to forsake the assembling together...right above it in verse 24 it clearly tells us "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...."

Spur is defined as something that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive.

I began to search the scriptures for the benefits of this koinonia. What's the point? Does it really work? ( Side note....I know the answer 😉)

"Not only is gathering together enjoyable, but it also nurtures our most important relationships and promotes a sense of belonging and community. A simple meal shared with friends or family can leave you feeling incredibly inspired, rejuvenated and connected." (Quoted)

As believers, we crave, are driven to desire friendship and community. We want to belong, be a part of something, contribute, be liked, be loved. 

God ordained it from the beginning.

"So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man."Genesis 2:20‭-‬22Of course we need people! We were designed that way! In the age of technology we are able to have friendships in many different ways.

I had a very late night FaceTime chat with a friend last night who lives 2,000 miles away. We met in a way that I can only describe as god-ordained. Billy Graham described God-ordained as "set apart as something special". We both had lost our beloved husbands. She saw a post I responded to in Griefshare's Facebook page. She resonated with what I said, private messaged me and that was the beginning of a really, REALLY sweet friendship.....brought on by mutual tragedy, mutual need, mutual sorrow....deep sadness growing into a cherished, open, honest friendship across the miles. 

This morning I'm having breakfast with a woman, that through the common bond of grief will likely morph into a bond of fellowship. Upon meeting her for the first time, my heart broke with compassion for her deep sadness. I know it....God knows...I know it.

People NEED people.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
John 15:13

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Above all, LOVE each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:8‭-‬10

My ability to love is because I am loved well by my Creator.

"We love because he first loved us."
1 John 4:19

Therein, lies the freedom....he does the work in and through me and the outcome, for me, are blessings I simply don't have the ability to orchestrate on my own. 

It's taken me a long time to truly understand what "freedom in Christ" really means. Here are a few:

•I am exactly who Christ created me to be... yep, with all my warts, failings, fears, my sensitive heart, my talent of shedding tears in almost any circumstance.

•I don't have to lay out a plan or be a list maker. Freedom is a heart that is sensitive to the prompting of the Spirit.

•I don't have to be busy every waking hour of everyday. I have the freedom to enjoy life.

•My worth is NOT based on what I do or how much I do. I can rest in knowing what Philippians 1:6 says so perfectly, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

•I don't have to strive for something I can never attain. God isn't looking for perfection. He wants my heart. And the tears rolling down my cheeks prove just how long I have desired for that head knowledge to penetrate my heart with deep understanding.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
John 8:36

This world will try everything to make you believe you are less than....not pretty enough, smart enough, successful enough, that you don't do enough, don't have enough.....but God. NONE OF IT MATTERS BECAUSE WE ARE FREE!!

In this season of my life I have the time and opportunity to invest in people. Not of my own accord, not in my own strength, not in my own plans...but simply conversations, fellowship, friendships, community, where burdens are shared and fears are heard and God is glorified

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”Matthew 18:20 

I'm going to rest in knowing that God WILL direct my path...even when I don't understand it...even when I don't know what he's doing...even when I think I know better...even when I perceive my plan to be better suited to my abilities. 

Reach out to someone today. Share a meal or a moment and be blessed. ❤️

Have a beautiful day.

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