"Bond"

There’s a bonding in the Spirit,

When a child of God connects,

With their brothers and their sisters,

More than anyone expects.

And it’s full of love and power,

Helping all their burden bear,

Standing, praying with each other,

With the Holy Spirit’s care.

The Lord binds us together,

And we’re bound up to His best,

Loosed from every evil,

Together pass each test.

And we are not lone rangers,

Isolation’s not the way,

He’s raising up a posse,

If we listen He will say,

That He’s adding to the church He builds,

As they’re saved He brings them in,

And never should we be alone,

Once the fellowship begins.

One for all and all for one,

And with one voice we praise,

And that’s how all will know we’re His,

When we love’s banner raise.

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14, NLT)

Nothing can substitute for our personal relationship to Jesus. That said, the Lord has not called us to function spiritually in isolation. He connects us with brothers and sisters in Christ so that we can help each other. This gives us both support and accountability, necessary for spiritual growth. Jesus made love among His disciples the one true sign that we belong to Him. He wants to point the world to us as those who illustrate His love. We practice on each other so that we can then love those outside the faith, even our enemies.

Lord, teach us to connect with each other in love, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.