We Need Each Other

As a member of our local church, having been sent to serve cross-culturally, I sought to cultivate a grateful heart by thanking God for the unexpected blessings He provided when things did not go as we thought and we returned to the States. God made us for fellowship; this truth should not surprise us. As image bearers, we reflect this fellowship through living in a community with others. Ultimately, we depend on King Jesus. Still, one of the primary means the Lord uses to grow and shape us is His church. God was using this circumstance in my life to bring a greater understanding of His bride's catholicity or global nature. Our relationships with national partners and our sending church strengthen the body of Christ.

I think of Paul's letter to the church of Ephesus and how richly our Heavenly Father has blessed us. The Gospel is the key; throughout the opening two chapters of Ephesians, the repeated phrases "in Christ" and "in Him" highlight the beautiful ways God has lavished us with His love and grace. In Chapter 5, Paul describes just how we need each other.

When we walk in the light, we bear witness to the Light [Eph. 5:8-14]

Verse 8 describes the beautiful transformation that takes place in the life of every true believer. We used to live in darkness, but thanks to Jesus, we do so no longer. Verses 2-3 explains how the sin that used to rule over us now has no place in our lives. God has rescued us from this curse of death, and the life-giving light of Christ now shines on us (verse 14). These verses hold for us a wonderful truth. With deep affection, we help each other discern how to live honorably and please God. If we see sin in the lives of our brothers or sisters, we lovingly confront them by exposing their corruption so that they are not devastated by the shameful consequences it will surely bring. Living in secret, dark places where sin bounds is never good for us. We need to help each other live in the light.

We need each other to live wisely [Eph. 5:15-17]

Wisdom in verses 15-16 is of the utmost importance to Paul, for the days he described are much like ours. All of these reasons are why we must walk in wisdom, making the best use of the time because the days are evil (16). The Greek word translated into English as "time" is kairos. Rather than describe time as seconds, minutes, and hours, kairos speaks of a measured, fixed season. As we lean on one another to live wisely in this season, it serves us little good to bemoan the evil of the time in which we live. Rather than wallow in self-pity, our conversations are better served by encouraging each other to make the most of the time God has given us. Every drop of our energy needs to bring the greatest glory to our Savior. Mutually encouraging each other, fostering partnerships, and fervently praying for one another. By doing so, the world sees a unified kingdom rather than a divided one.

We need each other to live humbly; God's kingdom is much bigger than our little corner of the globe. [Eph. 5:18-21]

At first blush, Paul ends this section of Ephesians by stringing together matters of little relation. He writes of drunkenness, the Holy Spirit, and humble submission in three short verses. A summary of these verses demonstrates why they are profound. We should not be controlled by wine; rather, the Spirit of God should govern us. When filled with the Holy Spirit, we soon grow to love, respect, and prefer others sourced in our worship and reverence of Christ.

We need each other. God designed us to live this way. "Let us consider how to stir up 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" (Heb. 10:25). In the articles to follow, we will explore how to cultivate these kinds of God-glorifying partnerships with your church's missionaries and other churches involved in the same mission both locally and globally.