God did not put you here to live an isolated life. While you’re on earth, The Bible says,
Romans 12:4-5 NIV [4] For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Here’s the way The Message Bible paraphrase says it,
Romans 12:4-6 MSG [4-6a] In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. [6b-8] If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
When you become a child of God, you’re connected to other believers as their brother or sister. God wants you to learn to love other people, and he wants you to practice loving others in his family. The church, which is the body of Christ, not only helps you center your life on God, but it also helps you connect with other believers, your brothers and sisters.
Many studies paint a grim picture of isolation. Isolation can triple your risk of early death, quadruple your risk of burnout, and increase your risk of depression and mental health hospitalization by five and ten times respectively. The message is clear: we need each other to thrive.
When you’re disconnected from God’s family your spiritual life will be weak. It’s like cutting off a finger; a finger dies when it’s separated from the rest of the body. To fulfill its purpose, a finger has to stay connected to a body. In the same way, you need to be connected to other Christians, to the body of Christ, if you want to grow spiritually and fulfill God’s purpose for your life. - Rick Warren
No matter your situation, find ways to connect to other believers.
Ephesians 2:19 TLB Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.
Romans 12:4-5 NIV [4] For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Here’s the way The Message Bible paraphrase says it,
Romans 12:4-6 MSG [4-6a] In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. [6b-8] If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
When you become a child of God, you’re connected to other believers as their brother or sister. God wants you to learn to love other people, and he wants you to practice loving others in his family. The church, which is the body of Christ, not only helps you center your life on God, but it also helps you connect with other believers, your brothers and sisters.
Many studies paint a grim picture of isolation. Isolation can triple your risk of early death, quadruple your risk of burnout, and increase your risk of depression and mental health hospitalization by five and ten times respectively. The message is clear: we need each other to thrive.
When you’re disconnected from God’s family your spiritual life will be weak. It’s like cutting off a finger; a finger dies when it’s separated from the rest of the body. To fulfill its purpose, a finger has to stay connected to a body. In the same way, you need to be connected to other Christians, to the body of Christ, if you want to grow spiritually and fulfill God’s purpose for your life. - Rick Warren
No matter your situation, find ways to connect to other believers.
Ephesians 2:19 TLB Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.
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