“OUR HELP”
Noelle McDermott
Today's Scripture: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, ESV
Theme: We need community.
“HE NEEDS MY HELP”
Following the arrival of the other Spidermen, Peter’s friends and the two other Spidermen realized that Peter needed their help. Peter had faced public harassment, the death of his aunt, and the guilt of thinking he was responsible for his aunt’s death. Though Peter attempted to push them away at first, the other Spidermen remained with him and empathized with Peter’s struggles. Most importantly, they encouraged Peter to not commit the same mistakes they made, such as giving into anger and bitterness. Even in the final battle, Peter relied upon the Spidermen and his friends to cure and send back the villains. He could never have done it without them. There is strength in unity (or community).
RUNNING TO ISOLATION
In the movie, Peter’s first response to tragedy was not to find his friends, but instead was to hide and isolate himself. I think that for some of us, this is our knee jerk reaction whenever we face something challenging. We don’t want to unpack how we feel with someone; we convince ourselves that it would be much easier to handle it on our own. But what does Scripture say?
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “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.” We are reminded to keep gathering with each other, for we need encouragement (and sometimes correction) from our community. The enemy can convince us of many more lies if we remain in isolation, but Christ-centered fellowship will point us back to the truth of God’s Word.
A THREEFOLD CORD
Scripture also reminds us in Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Some things in this life may feel unbearable, but fortunately for us, God has given us not only the Holy Spirit but also the wonderful gift of fellowship. In fact, God has designed us to live in community with others because He knows how much we need it! In our culture, pursuing the Lord sets us apart from the rest of the world and can sometimes feel isolating. Thankfully, our friends and fellow believers are walking that road also, and they can walk alongside us through even our most challenging seasons.
Make It Personal: Consider your conversations recently. Have you been open about what you’ve been walking through, whether good or bad, with a trusted friend recently? If you struggled to do that or haven’t at all, identify some reasons why it’s difficult to be vulnerable with your community. Ask the Lord to work through those areas in your life so that the enemy can’t trap you in isolation.
Pray: Father, thank You so much that You have given me people in my life to walk with. Sometimes I lose sight of how You’ve called me to live, so remind me of the gift that is community. When I’m struggling, show me that I don’t have to do it alone. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Read: Hebrews 10:24-25, Proverbs 18:1Galatians 6:1-2
Weekly Memory Verse: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34, ESV