We Need Each Other

One thing I've learned lately is how selfish our flesh can be, even when it comes to seeking the Lord. We can get so involved in following God that we let the little things He brings us slip right past us without even noticing it. God doesn't just call us to do one big, noble thing in life.. He calls us to serve him every second of our life. When God brings the little things our way, we can easily block them out if we don't have time for them. Sometimes we're so focused on the one major thing going on that we don't have a desire to make time for the little things which might be considered more important in God's eyes. I have been guilty of this so many times and especially lately. It's easy to fix our eyes on the bigger and more exciting things that God reveals to us, but is it God's will to stay focused on only one thing so much that we let the rest of our life fall apart around us?
I've always been a fan of this story.. a man is stuck in the river and the tide keeps rising. While it's up to his shens, a boat comes by and the driver tells him to hop in. He thanks the man politely but refuses to get in the boat. "I'm waiting for God to save me," is the man's reply. Two more times a boat drives by and offers to help him out, but he gives them all the same response. Finally the water is over his head and the man drowns. Once in heaven, he asks the Lord, "Father, why didn't you save me? I was waiting for you!" God replies, "I sent you three boats!"
You see, so many times we get so fixed on how big and awesome God is (because He is!) that we forget how often He can work in small ways for us. That is why it's so important to be in prayer for every aspect of our life so that we don't "miss the boat" when God sends it our way. God's will was for the man to jump in the first boat. So even though the man's desire was to trust in God, it did not automatically make him open to God's suggestions. Our spiritual eyes and ears have to be open to all of our surroundings, slow and careful to turn away anything that may very well be God's will for our lives no matter how small, unexciting, and challenging it may be.
This morning, I read Proverbs 17:17 and Proverbs 18:24 before heading to Church. I am always encouraged by those verses to try harder to be a good, loyal friend.. sometimes we need that reminder. As always, Pastor Steven's sermons are amazing to me. He said something in his sermon that really stuck with me this morning: "If we put off getting into a relationship until after we clean our act up, then we'll never get into a relationship... Are we being selfish with the direction and gifts God has given us or are we being generous and sharing it with our brothers and/or sisters?" Again, I felt very encouraged by his message. On my way home from church, I was listening to WayFM while they were interviewing the lead singer of Sanctus Real. Matt (that's his name) was talking about how strongly he feels that we should not walk through life alone. Whether it be a friend or a relationship, God calls us to walk together and not alone. He said that attempting to walk alone is such a dangerous place to be in our spiritual life, because it tends to make us very selfish and self-focused. That is not God's will for us, ever. We are here for each other, not for ourselves. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19-20

WE NEED EACH OTHER - Sanctus Real

I think I caught a glimpse of
Life without friends
Bitter, empty, hollow, dark and lonely
We never meant to hurt each other
So Can’t we trust again
And take it as a chance
To keep on growing

I don’t know why it doesn’t come easy
But I know that we could be happy
If we’d only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
Cuz no one’s meant to live alone

Life revolves around the need
Of having someone
Causing every complicated feeling
Oh and I don’t want to loose you
And there is nothing wrong with
Telling me what you need
To keep our love strong

It’s just a part of being a family
Taking the good with the bad and the ugly
If we could only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
Cuz I don’t want to be alone

Oh Oh we need each other
Fathers and Mothers
Oh oh we need each other
All your sisters and brothers
Oh oh we need each other
We need friends and lovers
Oh Oh we need each other

Well I need you
You need me
Cuz that’s the way
It’s meant to be
I need you
We need each other
(I don’t want to be alone)

Praise you, Lord, for this beautiful lesson you gave me today. Amen.