Better Together

By: Daniel Torres
A Devotional on the Book of Ephesians

In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. {Ephesians 2:21 CSB}

Devotional. Check.
Prayer. Check.
Listen to Hillsong album. Check.
All done...not so much!

​Did you ever consider that getting together with other believers is an integral part of your personal growth and sanctification? That's what Paul is saying in this passage.

Last week at our gathering we spoke about how through Jesus we are all one. Regardless of race, nationality, or background, we are all united at the foot of the cross. Before God we all have one thing in common. We're sinners. And in Christ we all share another thing in common. We're forgiven.

This week we spoke about how this oneness creates a new dynamic. It's one of family and kinship. Because of this family dynamic, we all need each other. I need you. You need me. We need each other.

In what ways do we help each other grow? Glad you asked! Here are some ways we help each other grow. It's not an exhaustive list. I'm sure you can even add some other benefits. But it's a good start...

• Encouragement and support
• Accountability
• Pray for one another
• Laugh and cry together
• Share one another's burdens

Here's the question however. If it's so beneficial for us to get together, and it's even backed up in Scripture, why are there so many "Lone Ranger Christians?" There's probably many reasons. Let me tell you a few.

Some people are just really good at creating excuses. Why is it that when it's time to do something as beneficial and necessary as gathering with God's people, all of a sudden we notice the laundry that needs to get done, or the food shopping we must do, or the tires that need to get rotated, etc.

The truth is that these are just a bunch of excuses and could easily be resolved with better time management. If gathering with each other is truly a priority and as essential as Paul says it is, then we must learn to push through those excuses and be better managers of our time.

Some are just lazy. Maybe they're good intentioned and even set the alarm, only to hit the snooze button over and over again. For the lazy person, sometimes it's just too tempting to kick off the fuzzy slippers, put down the remote, and brush their teeth.

But just like that same temptation is very real when you have to head to work, go to school, or whatever other important responsibility, you have to push through for what's important. 

​Some simply do not care. They believe they can live out their Christianity solo. After all, who needs other people? Nowadays, all you need is an internet connection and a smartphone and you have access to world class communicators, Grammy award winning worship, and devotionals from the Bible App.

The problem is that you have an incomplete diet. Personal worship, devotionals, and learning from great Bible teachers are all great ways grow and mature spiritually, but it's not complete. Paul says that we actually need each other grow. This means that corporately we play an important role in each others maturation and sanctification.

We are better together. We were designed for relationship. Deep down within each of us is a desire to be needed and known. From the bubbliest social butterfly, to the shyest introvert, we have a need for relationship.

So here's my challenge. Do you have a family of believers which you regularly do life with? A community that corporately worships and sits under the teaching of God's word? A place to practice the one another's of Scripture?

If you don't, I'd love to invite you to Swerve. We're not perfect in no way, shape, or form. We've just got our eyes fixed on the One who is.