Tuesday, August 2 – Acts 9:23-26

When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were also closely watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

 

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple.

Have you ever felt completely alone? Maybe you were physically isolated, or you felt the weight of loneliness because it seemed like no one could relate to your situation. At this point in Saul’s life, he was alienated by most people. Those he was previously friends with plotted against him, and the people who were now his family in Christ were afraid of him. For many, this would cause a crisis of faith or at least second-guessing about the rightness of the decisions they made. But Paul remained steadfast, pursuing community with his brothers and sisters in Christ even when they turned him away. The reality of being alone didn’t distract him from the new identity he had in Christ.

There are times in each of our lives that we feel like we don’t fit in. We may even feel alone in a crowded sanctuary. When we feel this way, it is easy to draw back from community, but Christ calls us deep into our new family of God, loving one another even when we feel isolated. Trust God as you pursue this unity with the believers around you, whether you have been nervous about going by yourself to Bible study or feel called to invite a new family over for a meal. He equips us with His Holy Spirit and the community of faith around us so that even when the circumstances are hard and isolating, we are never truly alone.

• Have you ever felt tempted to draw back from the community of faith? Why?
• What is a step you can take toward pursuing unity with the believers around you?
• Pray for God to put one person or family on your heart to pursue unity with.