Created to Be Together

I don’t know about you, but I often like to be alone. I am an introvert, so being alone helps me to relax and recharge. I cherish those times when I can sit down on my own and read a book or catch up on that TV show that my wife is not interested in watching with me. Being alone allows me to be completely focused on whatever is before me. There is no other movement or noise in the room distracting me and I am not concerned about whether or not the people around me are enjoying the book, movie, or tv show as much as I am.

Being alone is good and relaxing for me, but only in small doses. It is beneficial because I know that the loneliness is temporary. I know that the next morning I will head into the office where I will spend the whole day surrounded by wonderful people serving God together. I know that while I relax on a Saturday night, I will join together in worship with the body of Christ on Sunday morning. I know that while I catch up on the show that Jane has no interest in, tomorrow we will enjoy a show or movie together.

I enjoy being alone at times, yes, but that is not true loneliness. When sin entered the world it brought with it true loneliness. God’s people who were living in unity and community with Him were cut off from their creator and from that day forward there was true loneliness in the world. Still to this day sin creates loneliness. God’s beloved creatures are driven away from Him because of sin. Family and friends are separated because of sin. Even churches are divided and members of the body of Christ find themselves alone.

However, God did not create his people to live in isolation from Him or from one another, so he sent his Son into the world to stitch together the divisions sin created. Jesus Christ, Immanuel, reunited God with his people. God himself took on human flesh to live with his people and to usher in a new era whereby the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus reunited God’s people with Him and with one another.

We Pray: Thank you Lord for sending Jesus Christ, Immanuel, to live among us. We pray that all divisions among your people would cease and that all those who are lonely would find hope in the presence of Jesus Christ in his work and in his word. We pray all these things in the name of Jesus, our Immanuel. Amen.