…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love…
Col 2:2
Last week, we had an interesting Bible study. If you’ve ever attended in person, you know we begin with prayer requests. As we mentioned our requests, the Spirit began to lead various individuals to share scripture and personal experiences for the comfort and encouragement of the one making the request. When all was said and done, our time was up! We hadn’t even started what we planned to study, but the Lord had said plenty.
As I reflected on the time together, I greatly rejoiced in the unity that God had given us. Our text above speaks of a people whose hearts are “knit together in love”. What a beautiful statement! Such fellowship can only come from God, and we should be extremely thankful to enjoy it. Only true love permits such communion, and such love is a supernatural work of the God Who is love. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 Jn 4:7)
Earlier this week, I spoke to a brother that was admitting some personal struggles. He apologized for burdening me with such details, but as I prayed for him after our conversation the Lord reminded me of Jam 5:16: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” I now understood better how to pray for this dear brother! The verse continues: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” How can we have effective prayers in the latter part of this verse without being made better aware of the need in the first part of this verse?
We can never feel comfortable enough to let our guard down and open up to one another unless our hearts are knit together in love. I rejoiced that this brother felt safe enough with me to express his heart without fear of an attack or judgment. That kind of communion is only possible “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Rom 5:5) May we never take the fellowship of the saints for granted! Let us continue to share with one another what we have seen and heard from God “that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 Jn 1:3-4)
Jamie
