“AND I PRAY THAT YOU, BEING ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN LOVE, MAY HAVE POWER, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE LORD’S HO LY PEOPLE, TO GRASP HOW WIDE AND LONG AND HIGH AND DEEP IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST.” —EPHESIANS 3: 17-18, NIV
The importance of friends, the need to join hands and friendship in Jesus’ Name strengthens our faith and just plain makes life better.
It also builds unity in the church.
But sometimes it’s hard to make these connections. I have some sug- gestions:
Choose to belong to this family. If you are a believer in Jesus, you are part of God’s family. Chooseto be involved, to make a commitment to other believers. I know it can be hard and we are often afraid of commitment. Church is not just an organization that gets good things done. The heart of the church is to be a family, where we can bless, encourage, exhort, and teach one another.
Make friends for the purpose of sharing your spiritual journey.
“Together with God’s holy people,” the scripture above says. Together we learn, pray, weep, and rejoice as we help each other understand the depth of God’s love.
Do your part in God’s family. Everyone has a role to play. Everyone has gifts they can share. That’s how families work. Don’t be intimidated by that. Your skills and talents are as important and needed as anyone’s. Church members are not consumers—we are part of a community, a fam- ily. The level and strength of unity increases when we share the duties to- gether.
Be devoted. I recently told my church, I will stand with you, com- mitted and devoted, no matter what. As brothers and sisters, we cannot be tearing down, accusing, and criticizing. Jesus promised, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
In unity, we are devoted to Jesus and His church, in a divine commit- ment, and an answer to His prayer for us, “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).
