16/02/2024
There are times when we need to be alone to sort things out. But I believe this verse highlights something else. In the context of followers of Christ, there are times when we need to be alone with Him, but that is not what we’re called to. Jesus Himself took Himself away to be with the Father at night but in the day He was with His disciples, teaching them, ministering to the multitudes, healing the sick and raising the dead. This verse is the opposite of this Christlike behaviour as it stems from the selfishness of isolating ourselves. Did you get it? Selfish & isolating ourselves. It’s all about ourselves yet we’re convinced is the right thing to do despite the example of our Lord and the scriptures that tell us we are to be serving others and be in communion with the Church. We play into the hands of the enemy who wants us to be alone so he can pick us off, like the lion who pursues the stray from the pack. Depression arises like a flood and overwhelms. Pride comes up and says we can’t go back. Fear drowns out the truth of the Word and we fail to see or hear sense. In that moment we defy all sound judgement. But if we allow the Word to speak, through scripture or a friend in Christ, we can throw off the isolation and rejoin the family. Some people have no concept of family because they’ve not had a good example. Absent fathers, neglectful mothers, dominant brothers, nagging sisters, abusing uncles, absent aunts, aloof cousins, the list and methods are extensive and interchangeable but God says we’re a part of His family now. And we are not to be isolationist. We’re to serve and love each other and if we’re not doing that we’re not following Christ. The good news is that it can be remedied. We must first agree with the Word of God and confess our sin. Sin isn’t always lying or murder. Sin is disobeying God. It’s doing our own thing and going our own way. So that’s where we start. By confessing we’ve done our own thing and gone our own way and like the prodigal child we turn around and return to the Father, and the Father welcomes us as sons and daughters and we rejoin the family. We don’t stay away. Don’t be foolish, because that is not who you are. You can act like a fool but you are not one. You are redeemed and called and loved. And quite often you’ve probably got some hurt or damage from the past that needs to be addressed and healed but it won’t happen in isolation. So kill pride and sacrifice fear. Find strength in the Word that has been implanted in you and return to the flock then experience the promise of God, the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control that is your birthright.
