In this world, there is so much that opposes us. As believers, we need to surround ourselves with other godly people and lift each other up. Of course, we need to spend time with those that do not believe and share our faith, but we must be united as a church and strengthen one another and love one another.
1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:10-17
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
1 John 4:7-16
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
I think it is hard to grow in your faith without surrounding yourself with godly people. We are to gather with our fellow believers to encourage each other, pray for one another, and be accountability partners with each other. I believe it is more than coming to “church” and singing a few songs and listening to a sermon, though we need to go to “church” and be a part of church activities as often as possible. Don’t be too busy to be a part of your church body. You are never too busy for anything; it is just a matter of where your priorities lie.
We need to be a part of each other’s’ lives. Jesus said that people know we are His disciples in that we love one another. How can we do that if we do not spend time with each other getting to know one another? We need to know one another so that we know what each other’s’ needs are to help them, to encourage them and to pray for them. That is why I always felt so strong about small groups. It is a time we can do that. When there are other events going on in our church, we should all be there. We should spend time with each other outside of church. We should be a family. When someone is missing, it is like our body being without a body part (see 1 Corinthians 12). Even missing a toe can offset your balance.
My Daily Scriptures 