“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now, at last, succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”
(Romans 1:8-12)
From an early age, this man had a zeal for serving the Lord, which continued after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was traveling there to persecute Christians. Ref: Acts 22:6-10. According to the text above, Paul understood what so many Christians never do. There is no such thing as lone rangers for Jesus. This means that we cannot live our lives isolated from the Christian community, with the idea that Sunday morning church is all that is needed to fulfill some sense of duty to God.
Paul was a man who prayed for his brothers and sisters in Christ and had a strong desire to be with them for the spiritual strengthening and encouragement of each other. Lone rangers are unable to share in or receive from others this special gift. This is the natural outcome for those who only attend Sunday morning church, thinking that is all there is to Christianity, thereby missing out on the family or community benefits Christ intended for us.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 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.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)
Spending time with other Christians in bible study/fellowship is necessary if we’re to enjoy the fullness of all that God intends for us.
Here’s how the first-century believers accomplished this.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.” (Acts 2: 42-46)