Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 9, 2021
I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. Psalm 119:63 (NKJV)
As we say goodbye to one year and welcome the next, we likely will be talking about the events of 2020 for decades to come. It has truly been a historic year, one that has brought unspeakable grief and heartache to so many, yet one in which life’s sorrows were mixed with moments of joy, wonder, and hope. And though many comments can be made in reflection upon this year, I am struck in a new and profound way by the communal nature of our existence.
From entire neighborhoods spontaneously singing from urban balconies, to video calls with loved ones across the country, or just across town, we have been reminded this year that we are made to be known, to live and flourish in community with God and one another. As the psalmist says, we are meant to companion with one another, to journey through live side by side with people we know, love, and trust. One of life’s great tragedies is to journey alone, for isolation is the very sickness Christ came to heal.
Though human friendship is to be celebrated and cherished in many ways, Psalm 119 speaks to a deeper level of relationship, a bond that extends beyond shared hobbies or interests. Christian companionship is union with one another in and through our shared pursuit of union with God. You are known by the company you keep, so keep company with those who are companions of the Lord.
Cliché as it may sound, you become over time like those around you. I noticed this years ago when my family moved to Canada. Within a few months, I had subconsciously picked up local phrases, vocabulary, and even the pronunciation of certain words. None of this was intentional or deliberate but was the unavoidable consequence of being surrounded by a specific culture and way of life.
Are you surrounded by followers of Christ in such a way that you pick up their way of life? Do you intentionally seek out friendship and input into your life from people who know and love our Lord, who “keep his precepts?” As we enter into this new year, make it a priority in your life to discover the joy of knowing our Lord in and through the gift of Christian companionship.
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for the gift of community. Help us to remain committed to life with other believers, so that with them we can know and enter into the perfect community of the Trinity. Amen.
Application
Who do you surround yourself with most frequently? Do they help or hinder you in your pursuit of God and faithfulness to his ways?
Related Reading
Proverbs 27:9; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:11
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