There has been a suicide prevention campaign happening in our city recently. One billboard in particular caught my attention. It shows a group of people gathered in a circle, holding hands. The caption reads, “This is suicide prevention.” Our secular world knows something that God’s Word has been communicating for millennia. Over the last eight months, we have all seen the discouraging statistics on mental health, substance abuse, relational challenges, etc.
God’s Word clearly communicates it is essential for people to be in regular fellowship with others for their mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. — Hebrews 3:12-13
And 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. — Hebrews 10:24-25
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:11
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. — Acts 2:46-47
Fellowship is essential for so many reasons: encouragement, accountability, exhortation, resisting temptation, etc. Whatever your format — meeting on Zoom, meeting in person, attending church or Small Group, making phone calls… please do not neglect the scriptural mandate on Christian fellowship.
Not neglecting…
Posted in A Word from the Pastor