The Cost of Real Worship- Magi Style
What the Bible says about Worship Part 2
In what the news called "The Miracle at Quecreek," nine miners trapped for three days, 240 feet underground in a water-filled mine shaft "decided early on they were either going to live or die as a group." The 55 degree (Fahrenheit) water threatened to kill them slowly by hypothermia, so according to a news report "When one would get cold, the other eight would huddle around the person and warm that person, and when another person got cold, the favor was returned." "Everybody had strong moments," miner Harry B. Mayhugh told reporters after being released from Somerset Hospital in Somerset. "But any certain time one guy got down then the rest pulled together. And then that guy would get back up, and maybe someone else would feel a little weaker, but it was a team effort. That's the only way it could have been." They faced incredibly hostile conditions together—and they all came out alive together.
What a picture of the body of Christ.
The good life, one that is committed to God, is lived out having God’s favor and blessing on it. However, fulfilling that commitment requires us to have people in our lives to help us. And that is just what God planned. God has put people in our lives to encourage us, to move us towards Him in times of trouble. When the tempter shows up we need someone in our lives who is strong and who cares for us. That is what the bible calls “koinonia.” It means partnering or fellowship. It means being so connected to another Christian that we are “partners in our faith,” and like those miners we are there to support and help one another.
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13) The young Hebrew teenager Daniel, who became the a great man of God as well as the most esteemed in the Babylonian government of the sixth century BC, had a group of friends that loved God like he did. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego prayed together, served together, resisted temptation together, and left a legacy of courage and heroism rarely seen even in scripture. They lived the “good life” and they did it together. It is great when you get started in a life of serving God. Walking by faith is exciting and adventuresome. But to finish that walk of faith will require courage that is above the normal. To live by faith really is impossible without unreasonable bravery. One of the ways God provides that to Christians is through another Christian. To live this “good life” that God provides demands that we take His provision of courage that comes from other brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes you need other Christians. Really we do. You need to be genuinely connected to them: heartfelt, open communication, honest friends. When we don’t choose to have those relationships we forfeit what God could give us through them. God has something for you and it is with Christians at church.