Some things are meant to be shared.
A good joke. An extra big cookie. A heavy load. A road.
And, the road to Heaven is meant to be shared with others. It begins with sharing the truth about Jesus – that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 NIV, letter S in Keep on Track).
On our faith journey with Jesus, we are also to live out our faith alongside other believers. As independent people – with personal faith – we might wonder, ‘Why not just live out my faith on my own?’
Being united with other believers is important, and Jesus says a lot about it:
As followers of Christ, we are to teach God’s ways to others (Matthew 28:18-29). Believers are to practice forgiveness and accountability (Matthew 18:15-17). As Jesus loved the disciples, we are to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord so that others will see the unity of believers (John 13:34-35). Each of these expectations necessitates being involved with others on a meaningful level.
The New Testament writers encourage unity in the faith:
In response to God’s mercy, Christians are to use their spiritual gifts to serve one other, supporting each other as one body of Christ (Romans 12:1-13). Believers are to encourage one another to live in God’s grace, being self-controlled and godly while awaiting Jesus’ return (Titus 2:11-15). Together, we are called to pray and worship God with hearts of thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:19-20).
A great way to grow in faith alongside another believer is to work through Keep on Track: Training for Spiritual Growth or Follow and Lead: Training to Know God and then meet regularly to discuss it. When you do, you will reap God’s blessings that come from:
- encouraging each other to grow daily in the Lord
- holding each other accountable to keep verses memorized
- sharing how the Holy Spirit is working in your lives
- supporting each other in prayer as you grow in God’s ways, and
- spurring one another on toward good deeds as you pray for your Bible recipients.
Right now, think of a friend, a mentor, a new believer – someone to share the faith journey with you. Someone out there needs you… and you need that partner!
Whether this partner is your family member or an extended member of the body of believers, there is a Heart Training book that you both can work through, together!