Fellowship

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV)

What a blessing it is to walk out our Christian journey within a community faith.  The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to encourage each other, gather together as a community, and help each other along as we live out our faith.  How badly we need to hear and receive these words.  In our world today, we are too inclined to try to get by on our own, considering the need of others almost as a weakness.  In God's perfect plans, it is through relying on one another that we are strengthened, grown and matured in our faith.  We learn from each other, we celebrate together and weep together, we discern God's will for each other and hold one another accountable.  What a gift that is.  


I had an occasion this morning to be reminded of a quote which is also the title of a book by Eugene Peterson:  "a long obedience in the same direction".  That is such a great description of a faith journey. It is long but purposeful; it is moving, not stagnant.  How much better - necessary - to walk among our brothers and sisters in the faith.  How can we possibly stay faithful and obedient if we wander along by ourselves?  I don't believe we can.  We can't be, and were never intended to be, Christians in isolation.  God created us for relationships - with him and with each other.  


I've been writing and reflecting on discipleship lately as I've been preparing a Bible study on the life of Peter, what a life of discipleship looks like from beginning to end with all its beauty, mistakes, sins, denials, transformation and sanctification.  Our Lord was preparing Peter for the role he was to step into in this new body of believers.  It was certainly not an easy path, this process of training and refining Peter went through.  But he was surrounded by his brothers and sisters in the faith who were learning with him, praying with him, weeping and celebrating with him.  They were strengthening each other even in their darkest moments.  Even in their doubt, as they may have scattered and separated from each other when Jesus was arrested, they came back together to try and make sense of all they had seen and were together in prayer as they were empowered to go out and serve their risen Lord.  Where else could they be but with each other?  Who else could really understand the depths of their emotions and the heights of joy when true understanding came?


Where else can we go?  The gift of community - of true Christ-centered friendships - is a gift beyond measure.  Those dear ones in our lives who know us and love us anyway - who encourage, support, pray, correct and re-direct when we need it - are the picture and reality of Christ among us.  

Behold, how good and pleasant it is

when brothers dwell in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

running down on the collar of his robes!

It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,

life forevermore.

(Psalm 133 ESV)

Sight to the Blind

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. (Matt.20:29-34 ESV)

Isn't it interesting that these men who were physically blind, could still see the truth?  They recognized, as Jesus was passing by, that this was the Son of David, the Messiah.  There were so very many others who, though seeing, were blind to Jesus' identity and though hearing, were deaf to his message.  In the Matthew passage we are told that Jesus took pity on their physical blindness and healed them, restoring their sight. The passage ends with the statement that the men followed Jesus. it appears that, based on their recognition and acknowledgement of Jesus as Messiah, they had already begun to follow Jesus.


We, as believers, had to take that first step from blindness to sight. We had to recognize, see, Jesus for who he truly is - our savior, our deliverer. Once our eyes were opened to the truth, the decision was made to follow. Our blindness had been healed. I wonder, is it possible for someone to see Jesus as he really is, and choose to walk away, to remain in darkness? How sad to think that one could see the great light of the world and turn away! Great hardness of heart, sin, surely takes its toll. Jesus lovingly gives us a choice. He never forces us; but how compelling is that love and forgiveness!


Jesus asks questions of us just as he did those in the Gospel accounts. To his disciples - and us - he asks, "Who do you say that I am?" To the lame man waiting years by the pool, he asks, "Do you want to be healed?" The man had waited 38 years for his healing! There are those who know the agony of years of suffering, of waiting to be healed. The answer to that question seems obvious. But, is it? Do we understand the depth of that question - what new life in Jesus is like? Are we ready to receive what Jesus is offering?


Who do we say that Jesus is? Who is he to us, right now? Are we blind, deaf or lame - unable to see Truth, hear Truth or walk in the path of Truth? Or are we responding, even in our blindness to Jesus' voice calling us to see him, hear and respond to his word and follow him?

[Jesus said,] “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” [The blind man replied,] “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” John 9:39; 9:25 (NLT)