Monday, August 18, 2008

we need help

Over at Mart DeHaan's Been Thinking About blog, there is a good post on Michael Phelps, and how what he achieved in winning the unprecedebted eight good medals was impossible apart from the help he received from his teammates in the relay races.

This reminded me of the importance Scripture gives to the truth that we are dependent to some degree on other people. This is true in so many ways in society, and true in the church as revealed in the New Testament, as well.

I really believe that what we do or fail to do can mean the difference between life and death for others. And for ourselves, as well. We need to believe in the truth in Scripture, that we need help from others, and that others need help from us.

This does not mean we're no longer responsible for our own failures and sins. But it does mean that God has made it so that we're not to see the life in Christ as just a life between us and God, but a life that includes all others who are "in Christ." And a life which calls others to faith in Christ, as well.

We need help. I believe this. I want to plug in better to other Christians and what they have to say, to receive the prayers of others, and likewise the warnings as well as the encouragements of others. And I want to help others through prayers and good counsel as well.

Too easily I can just be isolated, or when down go off somewhere to myself, even thinking of a getaway with just myself and God. Such a time has its place as we see even from Jesus' life on earth. But I'm seeing more and more that I need others, and in God's working of grace he uses me in other's lives, as well.

What about you? Do you believe you can make it on your own with God's help, or do you believe that God's help involves an interdependent relationship with others?

11 comments:

preacherman said...

He has an amazing article on this subject.
Ted thanks.
We need to remember that God can do all we ask or can ever imagine.

Anonymous said...

Do you believe you can make it on your own with God's help, or do you believe that God's help involves an interdependent relationship with others?


i think that God is in control, and that God relates, with and through, all that He has made.
i praise God for all, even though i do not understand.

Anonymous said...

I believe God called us to fellowship with other believers for a reason. Iron sharpens iron. Encouragment, communial prayer and worship. I know that if God called me to solitude for a time, He would do a mighty work, but I ultimately believe it's healthier to commune with like-hearted people.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Kinney,
Yes. Mart is a great guy; you'd love him and he you! And he has many good thoughts.

Amen, brother!

Ted M. Gossard said...

Nancy,
Yes. It's good to see it that way, because then we can be more open to seeing God at work, even through some difficult circumstances and people. But God wants to do so much more through others in Jesus, in helpful, positive ways, I believe.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Jennifer, Hi again, I believe.

Yes, I agree. We need to be committed to that kind of fellowship, as well, just as Scripture tells us.

Anonymous said...

in other words...
to make it more plain,

it is pretty clear to me that God is into relationship.

if we are in the body of Christ we are spiritually into relationship with others, whether we know it or not.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Yes, Nancy. But we must live that out. Scripture makes that clear time and time again. Look at New Testament books and all the "one another's". Mart's post I link to in this post makes it so clear with the great analogy of what we've seen the past several days with Michael Phelps. And I've seen it lately at work in my own life.

Anonymous said...

honestly ted,

i think, that if we are listening to God, that God can use us with out us even knowing it.

but, it is quite easy sometimes to want to get off to ourselves, i can understand that. but, i do not think that God would allow us to do this for very long if he wanted for us to do more.

Anonymous said...

and i agree, i think that God likes to see us be in relationship with Him and with others as well.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Indeed, Nancy. I do think we need those times alone, as well, to get away from everyone. Especially to meet with God and to rest. Then we need to get back with the people, and often out of our comfort zone.