The world’s greatest Rough Collie lives at our house and his name is Captain. The Blonde walks Captain almost every day, and she has a little circle she makes around the local elementary school and the high school before she heads back to the surf shack.
Jennifer bumps into a lot of the same people and one of her neighborhood friends on her walk is Steve Zapata who works for the school. If you know Mr. Zapata, you know he is hard not to like. When Jennifer walked by him, he stood at attention and saluted and said, “Hello Captain.” It’s bad when your dog is more well known than you are!
Jen told me Captain went crazy! Someone recognized him, someone noticed him, and someone knew him. My point is even dogs need encouragement and validation.
God has provided a place for us to be encouraged. He has provided a place for us to receive this much needed motivation to keep going (it’s hard out there) and it’s called the church. In Hebrews 10:24 & 25 God tells us, “And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
As people we are wired for community and it’s one of the greatest gifts we have from the Lord. A healthy, vibrant local church is such a fantastic gift. If that’s true and it is, why do so many forfeit this blessing from God?
Every week we go out into the world and we fight, we struggle, we get robbed. Does anybody else feel like they are less and less in the majority? What I mean is I no longer feel like I am in the mainstream which I would define as normal. I feel like Elijah and there’s a certain level of loneliness that comes with that, maybe a small dose of fear, like I am the only one that has not gone over to the dark side.
John the Baptist even wondered at the end of his life if he had done it right and he asked Jesus about it. John was the GOAT (greatest of all time - Matthew 11:11) so if he had doubts or needed encouragement it’s okay when you feel a little insecure.
What’s the answer? Keep hanging out with that group of healthy, vibrant people we call the church. Keep meeting up to recharge others and to recharge yourself while the temptation to give up because it feels hopeless passes - does that make sense?
Listen to what Galatians 5:9 & 10 says, “Let us not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”
The Lord is good to encourage us with His written Word. It’s like you can hear Jesus say, “I know you are tired, but My plan is for you to keep going and in My perfect timing you will produce fruit with all of your hard work. Keep loving others, keep doing good, especially to those in your community of faith.”
It’s okay if you are bummed out, we all get the blues but don’t give up, keep going, God is for you.
He told me to tell you that.
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