Companions for the Journey
When Jesus begins his public ministry, one of the first things he does is to find companions, those individuals who will share his life and ministry in a special way.
Whenever Jesus faces a difficult situation, he gathers these companions around himself—sometimes all twelve, sometimes only a few. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, needed the companionship of others. Even he, as strong and powerful and good as he was, couldn’t go it alone.
We can’t go it alone either. We cannot face the challenges of life without the support of others. This need for companionship is one we must never be ashamed of. We must never think, “If I were more mature, I could stand on my own two feet.” Or, “If my faith were stronger, I wouldn’t have to rely so much on others.”
No, our need for companionship, fellowship, friendship, is in the very fabric of our human psyche. It is yet one more way that we are made in the image and likeness of God.
—Melannie Svoboda,
Abundant Treasures
We should all be familiar with our God’s words in the creation narrative, when he looked upon man and said, “It is not good that man is alone.” We need relationships. It’s the way He made us—in His image, the image of a triune God, He is not alone but exists in plurality, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus then gave us an example, communing with His followers, calling upon them and relying on their friendship and fellowship. Isolation, on the other hand, is a favorite tool of the enemy; divide and conquer is his nefarious plan. In the mental health and recovery fields, you see this clearly. Why do you suppose it is that isolation is one of the chief symptoms of mental illness and addiction? May today’s devotional reading challenge us all to a renewed commitment to connect with others; to become an active part of our community, giving and receiving the blessings and benefits of a shared journey. You weren’t created to go it alone —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics