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I think the Beatles were uttering a veiled prayer that many of yes share when they sang:
“Help me if you can, I am feeling down…” This may be one of the reasons the writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that two is better than one (Eccl 4:9-12) or that Jesus tells us that where two or three gather, he is there in the midst (Matt 18:18-20).
Actually, I think Jesus’ understanding of the church was the gathering of friends committed to caring for one another (Jn 13:12-17; 34-35; 17:11)…a partnership in the gospel (1 Jn 1:3-4)
Paul says this community is based on unity (Eph 4:1-6; 1 Cor 1:9-13) a body (1 Cor 12:12-13) as it were.
And this community, this partnership again starts small, two or three (Lk 8:51; Mk 9:2-3;
Matt 26:36-38)…but with a big time commitment to one another.
Paul’s deepest friendships in ministry initially included Barnabas, but then extended to Silas and Timothy. And this base allowed Paul to have an unusual impact and partnership with an expanded number of churches and people…maybe especially the church at Philippi (Phil 1:1-11).
Thank God for the friends he has placed in our lives…and for the expanded partnership in the gospel we can enjoy because of these special closest people.