Joined Together

Joined Together

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15

God never intended for His children to live life alone. We read in Romans 12:4-5, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”

For many years members of the Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities have proved their “belonging” by keeping track of one another through a weekly newspaper called the Budget. News is contributed by local scribes and shared in a simple format. Bits of humor and news of everyday moments, interesting events, and tragedies are captured and shared.

Sometimes in our ordinary lives it’s hard to open ourselves to others, yet as we share our lives, we learn to share our hearts as well. And when we open our hearts to others, we find it becoming easier to open our hearts to God. When we connect our lives on earth, we also gain a glimpse of heaven, where we will commune together with God—and His children—for eternity.

Our physical bodies are joined by flesh, muscles, tendons, and veins, but the body of Christ is joined by words and stories, by laughter and tears. Do you have an interesting event, or maybe a humorous, simple, everyday moment you can share with a believing friend? If so, go ahead and do it. By sharing your life, you are joining with others and building up the body of Christ, constructing connections that will continue for eternity.

Dear heavenly Father, sometimes staying isolated is easier than sharing my heart and life with others, and yet You created the body of Christ for a purpose. I’m thankful that I do not have to live this life alone. Show me how to give and share my heart with others, and also how to accept and receive compassionate tears and hugs in return.