Giving credit where credit’s due… I was listening to a teaching by Shelia Walsh which triggered this post. Perhaps the experience of the past 2 years has also influenced. Let’s face it – we kept hearing that we should ‘isolate’ or ‘stay at home’ or ‘quarantine’, etc. which only separated us even more. This has been a difficult time.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
[Matthew 11:28-30, MSG]
I also believe that being separated from each other increases our sense of sadness, which only intensifies the separation. Somehow I don’t think that the Father ever expected us to stay separated from each other. There are so many scriptures that tell us we need each other.
“Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].” [Galatians 6:2, AMP but read 1-4]
“Above all, have [a]fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]” [1 Peter 4:8, AMP]
These are only 2 verses that speak of our relationship toward each other and how we should conduct ourselves. The problem is when we live in the society we are now experiencing… how do we accomplish this ‘from a distance’? And we have a responsibility, an obligation to one another in light of Galatians 6:1.
The one reality that I tend to cling to is that our current situation is not something that has surprised the Father. And since His Word is unchanging and stands forever… what would He want us to do to fulfill this charge? I suspect the question is… were we fulfilling this charge before society made a 180? Jesus gave us a command to love one another as He loved (John 13:35) and the second commandment (Matthew 22:39).
If we feel frustrated and/or confused – the Word has not nor will it change. What we need to do is to discover and created new ways to fulfill touching lives, including our own brothers and sisters in the Lord, who also need encouraging during these times. As we act on and then share what we are doing we can also lift them up. Whatever the issue we face, as we turn to the Lord for His assistance, we will overcome these times of separation. We will be together.
