Bonded

I want you to think about a really rough point in your life, some obstacle, some hardship, some bump in the road that you had to overcome. Were you alone? Did you have anyone to walk with you through those times?

As I have been studying the book of 1 Thessalonians I am understanding that we are not meant to suffer alone. Shared suffering and hardships are much easier to bear than when you are on your own. So many people give up on God, relationships, people, and life because no one pleads with them not to give up. So today if that is you I want to challenge you not to give up. Read and understand the context of 1 Thessalonians. Paul not only shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them but he was willing to share his own life and share in their suffering as well (2:8).

When we share our lives with one another and walk "through the fire" we are refined and grow stronger. Think about the Holocaust for example. In the midst of extreme suffering people were brought close together. Christians all over Germany and Europe bonded together to help people. Many people shared in the suffering of the Jews to help them.

We even see that in many areas in our own lives. Look at sports teams. When teams overcome the team grows stronger and their is unity among the group. As Christians we are a team. Living for Christ in a world that is totally opposed to the things of God is really hard. We have many failures and have many obstacles to overcome. We need to share our lives with one another and walk through the hardships and sufferings with people so that we may be strengthened and God may be glorified.