Hi everyone. Im not the most informed bible student but I'm open to correction and suggestions. Something I have noticed that is prevalent within the body of Christ- is loneliness. The first time I can find this in scripture is whenGod creates Adam. In Genesis 2:11 God states that it's not good for man to be alone, so he creates a suitable helper for him. The strong's concordance defines this as 'alone, separate or apart'. The phonetic spelling is 'bad'. My conclusion is that it's bad for us to be separated from the body.
I like to use the term body, because the Church has often been mistranslated into meaning the actual building or corporate meeting. And although the body is indicative of a coming together, I believe it is much deeper than just attending a meeting. Many Christians who are married and have families already experiences connection with one another. But what about those who either choose not to marry, or have no partner or family that are born again. There are others who suffer with social phobias, agoraphobia or who are easily offended and feel like they can't for whatever reason fit in anywhere.
One of my favourite scriptures is John 15 the vine. I always picture this as being connected to something. And although the main meaning is being connected to Christ ... are we not all connected together?
My next scripture is from 1 Corinthians Ch 12. I'm using the E.S.V.
One Body with Many Members12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[SUP]d[/SUP] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts,[SUP]e[/SUP] yet one body.21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
This portion of scripture highlights our need for one another, our connectedness through the Holy Spirit and my favourite part in verse 22-26, our duty to ensure that those who struggle with the concept of biblical fruitful relationships- to reach out and to treat carefully. There are times where Jesus felt lonely. I often think about how frustrating it must have been when He knew the truth and yet many rejected Him for it. Being misunderstood can cause a real sense of loneliness, and yet I take great hope that Jesus understands what I'm going through, not just because His consciousness resides within me, but because He humbled himself and became a man. When Jesus was imprisoned his disciples left him out of fear and he was alone. When Jesus felt the father turn from Him, He must have felt alone, as if His connectedness was broken.
My encouragement is Jesus understands how you feel and there is hope. He created His body so that we can be together. Do not remain silent because loneliness will eat away at your soul and your mind will fill your head full of self destructive thoughts. If the Father saw it was not good to be alone, then He can redeem you from the curse of loneliness. Not everyone is going to be your friend, not everyone is going to 'get you' but Jesus has people who will.
Lord I thank you that you understand and that you feel what we feel. I pray that you would restore your body and that those who for whatever reason have withdrawn from your body would find a way back. I pray you would put people in their path to bring healing and restitution to this area. We need one another Lord, speak to the hearts of those who pass by the loners. Show them and prompt them to take special care of them. In Jesus name Amen.
I like to use the term body, because the Church has often been mistranslated into meaning the actual building or corporate meeting. And although the body is indicative of a coming together, I believe it is much deeper than just attending a meeting. Many Christians who are married and have families already experiences connection with one another. But what about those who either choose not to marry, or have no partner or family that are born again. There are others who suffer with social phobias, agoraphobia or who are easily offended and feel like they can't for whatever reason fit in anywhere.
One of my favourite scriptures is John 15 the vine. I always picture this as being connected to something. And although the main meaning is being connected to Christ ... are we not all connected together?
My next scripture is from 1 Corinthians Ch 12. I'm using the E.S.V.
One Body with Many Members12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[SUP]d[/SUP] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts,[SUP]e[/SUP] yet one body.21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
This portion of scripture highlights our need for one another, our connectedness through the Holy Spirit and my favourite part in verse 22-26, our duty to ensure that those who struggle with the concept of biblical fruitful relationships- to reach out and to treat carefully. There are times where Jesus felt lonely. I often think about how frustrating it must have been when He knew the truth and yet many rejected Him for it. Being misunderstood can cause a real sense of loneliness, and yet I take great hope that Jesus understands what I'm going through, not just because His consciousness resides within me, but because He humbled himself and became a man. When Jesus was imprisoned his disciples left him out of fear and he was alone. When Jesus felt the father turn from Him, He must have felt alone, as if His connectedness was broken.
My encouragement is Jesus understands how you feel and there is hope. He created His body so that we can be together. Do not remain silent because loneliness will eat away at your soul and your mind will fill your head full of self destructive thoughts. If the Father saw it was not good to be alone, then He can redeem you from the curse of loneliness. Not everyone is going to be your friend, not everyone is going to 'get you' but Jesus has people who will.
Lord I thank you that you understand and that you feel what we feel. I pray that you would restore your body and that those who for whatever reason have withdrawn from your body would find a way back. I pray you would put people in their path to bring healing and restitution to this area. We need one another Lord, speak to the hearts of those who pass by the loners. Show them and prompt them to take special care of them. In Jesus name Amen.