Each week we share words from one of our partners. This week’s devotional is by Darryl Thrasher.
The Word:
And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.’” I Kings 19:3-4 (NASB)
The Story:
Why is connecting so important? I realized that in my life that I have not been connected to other men and other people of God in any way. The Bible speaks of how Elijah felt alone and by himself. I believe that he found himself disconnected from other believers. He even tells God, “I am the only one.” There are times when I, too, have found myself sitting under a broom bush in the wilderness asking God to just let me die. The people that I care for would be better off if I were just not around. God knows how difficult following Him can be as an individual. So in His wisdom, he commands us to be in a community with other believers. He gives us different gifts and talents so that we may build each other up according to our needs. As I have begun to get involved, I have discovered that I am not alone. I walk with other believers who are broken like myself, but have accepted the love and calling of Jesus to be made new and need my encouragement just as I need theirs.
The Reflection:
What are we doing to consistently stay connected to other believers? What is keeping us from connecting to those around us? Reflect on the various ways the Lord has used other believers in our lives for His glory and our good.
The Application:
Let’s take advantage of the mercies and blessings that God has given us by providing opportunities to get connected. The process of getting involved brings us out of our loneliness and begins to renew us through relationships with others. We are not alone and we have something to offer. This week, let’s reach out to someone the Lord has placed in our lives.
The Prayer:
Lord, I pray that each of us step out of ourselves and into Your community as servants. Help us to participate in Your kingdom through connecting with each other. Forgive us for trying to live on our own. Help us to lean on each other as we do Your will. Amen.
