In Bath, surrounded by believers, I lived a very open life among my friends, especially among my closest friends. If something was wrong, they knew it, not because they made speculation into my behavior but because I told them. I sought them out as brothers with whom I could seek the Lord. And that is the purpose of the brethren.
One of my first teachers, Andrew, revealed the value of living in openness and honesty, and I witnessed the Holy Spirit’s movement in my own life when I walked in the light among other believers, sharing both my joys and my battles. Personal intimacy brings God’s children closer to Him as they acknowledge their weaknesses. God is ever strong, and He uses our weaknesses to glorify Himself. And concerning the brethren, I quickly learned the truth in this verse: “confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16 NASB). And, in that, not only confession of sins but also of all joys and peace and the sharing of testimonies to edify one another.
But here in Annapolis this truth somehow slipped from my practice. How could I forget that “if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7)? My God is my life, and I hang on Him for everything, but He has also commanded us to embrace and love one another, both as a model of His relationship with us and as a means for His Spirit to move among us. We are to be one as He is one to bring glory to God on earth (John 17:22). Oneness is impossible without intimacy, intimacy is impossible without honesty, and honesty is impossible without humility.
I need to cast my pride away and confess when I’m hurting and broken. God knows my wounds and sins, but He won’t touch them to heal them if I lie to myself and to Him and say they don’t exist. There are people here whom God has placed for a specific reason. I won’t go it alone. I need to be humble and honest, and learn to trust again. Jason Upton sang “Trust Once More”:
One of my first teachers, Andrew, revealed the value of living in openness and honesty, and I witnessed the Holy Spirit’s movement in my own life when I walked in the light among other believers, sharing both my joys and my battles. Personal intimacy brings God’s children closer to Him as they acknowledge their weaknesses. God is ever strong, and He uses our weaknesses to glorify Himself. And concerning the brethren, I quickly learned the truth in this verse: “confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16 NASB). And, in that, not only confession of sins but also of all joys and peace and the sharing of testimonies to edify one another.
But here in Annapolis this truth somehow slipped from my practice. How could I forget that “if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7)? My God is my life, and I hang on Him for everything, but He has also commanded us to embrace and love one another, both as a model of His relationship with us and as a means for His Spirit to move among us. We are to be one as He is one to bring glory to God on earth (John 17:22). Oneness is impossible without intimacy, intimacy is impossible without honesty, and honesty is impossible without humility.
I need to cast my pride away and confess when I’m hurting and broken. God knows my wounds and sins, but He won’t touch them to heal them if I lie to myself and to Him and say they don’t exist. There are people here whom God has placed for a specific reason. I won’t go it alone. I need to be humble and honest, and learn to trust again. Jason Upton sang “Trust Once More”:
Somebody here is hurting
Somebody here is broken
Somebody here is waiting
Somebody here is hoping
For love to come and unlock every door
Takes you and me to open up once more
And learn to trust again
Somebody here is searching
Somebody's dreams were stolen
Somebody's arms are reaching
Somebody needs to hold them
For love to come and unlock every door
Takes you and me to open up once more
And learn to trust again
I don't know where you come from
I don't know where you're going
I only know the healing
Starts when we all stop running
For love to come and unlock every door
Takes you and me to open up once more
And learn to trust again
…
There is peace like a river
There is joy like a fountain
I am drinking the cup of my Father
Flying over this mountain
…
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