Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. (Matthew 18:19-20)
Jesus doesn’t want us to play solo. He wants us to play and work together in the community.
The first thing Jesus did after being tempted by Satan in the wilderness was to ask Peter and Andrew, James and John, to be with Him. Jesus included the disciples in nearly everything He did. He wanted them around because He would be training them for the work of the Kingdom. He also wanted them around for their company and support.
Jesus doesn’t want us to play solo because, on our own, we can become vulnerable to grandstanding. When we grandstand in the Christian life, we aren’t playing for Jesus. To play for Jesus, we play on a team.
Jesus also doesn’t want us to play solo because, on our own, we can become vulnerable to burnout. The Christian life isn’t a sprint; it’s a relay race. We need each other to run the race.
God made us to be with each other. We’re the Body of Christ, and in order for the Body to work, we need the gifts of each person. If we insist on doing everything by ourselves, we’re amputating ourselves from the Body.
I would like you to think about comparing the Christian life to embers in a fire. If an ember falls away from the fire, that ember will burn out. But if it’s swept back into the fire, it will burn bright again. We are, of course, the embers. In order for us to burn, we need to be in the fire together.
Jesus said that when “two or three are gathered in [His] name,” He would be with us. In other words, Jesus is encouraging us to not play solo. If we try, more often than not, we’re just playing for ourselves and not for Him.
Reflection Questions:
- Would you rather play solo or play for a team? If the former, how come?
- Although being part of a community is necessary for us, being part of a community can also be very frustrating, difficult, and even hurtful. What has being part of the Body of Christ been like for you?
- Jesus says that “where two or three are gathered in [His] name,” He will be there. Is there anyone, any two or three, any community that you need to connect with or reconnect with at this time?