In the Journey of Life, We Need Each Other!

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Better Together

In the Journey of Life, We Need Each Other! By Rick Warren — May 13, 2015 “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians4:16 NLT, second edition) The Bible says in Colossians 2:6-7, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (ESV). The Bible often compares life to a walk, because you don’t just sit still in life. We are on a journey! Throughout the New Testament we’re told to walk in wisdom, in love, in light, in obedience, and in the Spirit. But one of the key ways that God tells us to walk is this: You were never meant to walk through life alone. This has nothing to do with whether you’re single or married. Marriage does not solve the issue; community does. And you find community in your spiritual family — the Body of Christ. Some of you say, “What’s wrong with walking alone? I like waking alone. In fact, I prefer it. I can go at my own pace. I don’t have to wait for anybody.” You may like walking alone, but you need others to walk with you through life. Let me give you three reasons. 1. It’s safer. Have you ever had to walk through a dark alley at night or down a long road in the countryside by yourself? It can be a little scary. It’s safer to walk through life with others. 2. It’s supportive. There’s an old Zambian proverb that says, “When you run alone, you run fast. But when you run together, you run far.” Life is not a 50-yard dash; it’s a marathon! The only way you’re going to finish the race well and not burn out is by having other people involved in your life through meaningful relationships. 3. It’s smarter. You learn more by walking with others than you do by yourself. Proverbs 28:26 says, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool.” In other words, if you’re the only one who thinks something and nobody agrees with you, you may be walking in the wrong direction. When you walk by yourself through life, you don’t have anybody to go, “We’re off the path. We’ve got to get back on the path and go in the right direction.” Ephesians 4:16 says, “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (NLT, second edition). You’ve got to have other people in your life to help you grow into the person God made you to be. Life is about relationships. God is love, and he wants you to learn to love him and to love others. Those are the two greatest lessons in life. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What does biblical community model to the world? Who are the people with whom you can walk through life and share support? How are you actively cultivating those relationships to make them stronger?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huq9pzCQfYc Today’s Scripture “What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?” (Romans 3:3, NIV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS You Set the Limits There will always be critics and naysayers in life. It’s not what’s said about you that affects your life, but what you say and believe about yourself. Have the opinions of other people caused you to water down your dreams? One of the most important things you can learn is that other people don’t have to believe in you in order for your dreams to come to pass. Other people don’t set the limits for your life — you do. In Romans 3:3, the Apostle Paul is saying, “It doesn’t matter if other people don’t believe. Their unbelief is not going to keep me from believing in my dreams.” When God puts a promise in your heart, it’s not up to other people to bring it to pass; it’s up to you! You don’t need everyone to validate you. You have to follow the voice of God for yourself and allow Him to order your steps. God sees the hidden treasures that you’ve had buried on the inside of you. He wants to bring those treasures out and make your dreams a reality! As you get rid of old, defeated thoughts and replace them with what God says about you, you will remove the limits and live the abundant life God has in store for you! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for another day to see Your goodness in my life. Help me to see myself the way You see me. Help me to see the plans You have for me so that I can be empowered by You to fulfill my destiny. I love You and bless Your name today in Jesus’ name. Amen”