August 5, 2013 … Two By Two

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 217

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Hear a longing and poignant song, performed by Mark Harris, singing “I Wish You Were Here”, reminding and us that God made us for relationships with others … all the way to glory.

 Highlight Passage of the Day: Ecclesiastes 4: 9 [Two simply better than one.] … [NLT] … 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 
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Contextual Study involving today’s passage found in Ecclesiastes, Chapter 5 … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage of the Day #1: Matthew 18: 20 [God is there when two or three come together IN HIS NAME] … [NLT] …  
20 “… For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.”

Reference Passage of the Day #1: Mark 6: 7 [Two by two He sent them out.] … [NLT] …
7 And He called His twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two, with authority to cast out evil spirits.

My Journal for Today: Have you discovered the reality that God didn’t make us to be “Lone Ranger” Christians? Individualism and independence may be part of the great American cultural value system; but “doing it alone” just doesn’t cut it when it comes to being Christ’s called ones in the world. Yes, God gives each of us, when we come to Him in faith, the same Holy Spirit to go forth with power in His Name (see Acts 1: 8). But in His Kingdom and working for His glory in this world, God made us for relationships; and that’s why, when Jesus’ disciples were ready to go out witnessing in His Name, He gave them all the same authority; but He sent them out TWO-BY-TWO (see Mark 6: 7). And we know what Jesus said to all His disciples about God being with them (us) any time they (we) come together as two or more … in His Name.

Solomon, when he was writing his reflections on life, recognized the power of doing battle in life, paired for action with others. That’s why accountability in life, especially as a Christian, is so important. How can one read Solomon’s teaching in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 above and not realize that going it alone as a believer in life is not the way to go?

How often in Scripture do we see examples of believers being paired in their calling in life with another. There was Moses and Aaron, Moses and Joshua, David and Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha in the OT; and there was Paul and Timothy, Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, and Paul and Luke in the NT?  Paul really got the message about God’s power in being paired or having close relationships as he went his way as an Apostle; and Paul was no slouch as an individual believer, was he?

So, if we see that having close Christian relationships is important in being His witnesses in this world, to whom have we attached ourselves for accountability and action in this world? Maybe you have a spouse with whom you are paired. Maybe you have a brother or sister in Christ with whom you are accountable and with whom you witness TOGETHER for God’s glory. Maybe you have a close group of brothers who are willing to ask you the tough questions and hold you closely accountable to God’s will and for His glory. But as you listen to Mark Harris’ song, linked above, and you see yourself in heaven one day, with whom would you long to be with in glory? And if you have no one, God has made us to be witnesses for His glory, but reaching out in His Name, He wants us to be paired and grouped with others to magnify our witness.

I pray that we all have others with whom we will be witnessing for Christ today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I thank You for giving me so many cohorts of togetherness as I go forth in Your Name today. … Amen