| I once read people have to hear something seven to eight times before they begin to internalize it. Well, I haven’t counted, but this has to be the millionth time I’ve emphasized this idea. Your faith is not merely your own. What you believe and profess isn’t just between you and the Lord. I can say that with confidence because I learned everything you did. Think of all the self-sufficiency lessons we’ve heard. You can guarantee you’ve heard that more than what I’m about to say. As a result, those ideas crept into our walk with God. And we self-talked our way from our shared discipleship. Now, of course, yes, you and I have personal responsibilities. There are personal decisions to make and individual priorities to set. But that does not take away from the communal nature God designed us for. In fact, how many personal decisions have zero potential to influence other people? Today’s example from scripture is 1 John 5. We could use the entire letter as an example. John wanted his readers to know true and lasting fellowship with God and with the church. To appreciate the importance of both, consider what is missing when you remove one from the other. Christians who believe their faith is no one else’s business might struggle with 1 John 5:16. John has just encouraged our faith by reminding us of the power of God we have through prayer. God hears whatever we ask that aligns with God’s will. A lot of us would stop there and “declare” our prayer requests. Notice, though, what John asks us to consider first. “If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one.” An obvious question to ask is, what sin is mortal and which is not mortal? One thought suggests we can connect it to idols; John says, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” How much of our sense of self is idolizing who we think we are? But I hadn’t planned for us to delve into that together. So, for now, let’s appreciate part of a larger picture John gave us. That gift of prayer God gave us is as much for us to use for one another as it is for ourselves. There is debate about who a brother is in this passage. Some say it signifies those within the church. Others suggest it includes anyone, even non-believers. Neither limit what is most meaningful to us. That our prayers draw us closer to one another. If I’m the brother you see in sin, your prayers help me. As self-sufficient as I think I am, I cannot save myself. None of us can. And that’s the point. Let’s say we realize we can never do for ourselves what God does for us. Then why would we neglect the obvious form God uses to share that power with us? I don’t want the church, the family of God to give up on me. I’ll say it again, your faith is not merely your own. That’s not how God intended for us to live. If you are in Christ, you are in the family of God. Stay blessed…john |
John Fletcher
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