Daily Devotionals

X Factor of Friendship Week 3: Monday

Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" Matthew 4:19

We were not meant to walk through life by ourselves. We need each other. When we come alongside each other and walk through life together, we accomplish more than we could ever accomplish on our own. We also find encouragement and support that we are not alone. Jesus set the ultimate example for us when He came to Earth and appointed 12 disciples to walk alongside life with Him and spread His message after He left Earth and returned to Heaven.

When Jesus began His ministry on Earth, He invited others to participate in what He was doing. He selected 12 men and called them to be His disciples. Matthew 4 tells us about the moment when Jesus called His first disciples. He called two brothers, Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen. One day, they were fishing along the sea of Galilee when Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me and I will show you how to fish for people!"  (verse 19). Then, Jesus called two other brothers, James and John, who were also fishermen. All of these fishermen left everything behind to follow Jesus. He invited them to be a part of something incredible, and they did not miss out on His invitation. He went on to call eight more men to join Him. By inviting these people to follow Him, Jesus set an example of what it looks like to live in community with the people around us. After His death, these men, except for His disciple Judas, who betrayed Him, continued to spread Jesus' message. Ultimately, God worked through them because of their commitment to spreading God's message, and the church began. The church is about following Jesus' example of living alongside other Christ-followers and spreading His message. 

1 Corinthians 12 gives us a picture of what the church is about and why we need each other. In this chapter, the apostle Paul compared the church to a body. In this chapter, he wrote, "All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it" (verse 27). If we are followers of Jesus, we each play a role in helping the church grow and function. Like anybody, every part of the body of Christ, the church, is valuable and essential. Each person in the church is necessary and useful. Simply put, we need each other. 

We must never underestimate the critical roles we play in the church. God has gifted each one of us specifically to serve the church. He has also given us people in the church to help us and live life alongside. What a gift we have in the church!

Moving toward action

Who has God placed in your life to walk alongside life with and encourage each other in your walk with Christ? Make a list of these friends now. Then, find a way to reach out to them today to encourage them and tell them you are so thankful for them. If you do not have this group of friends following Christ along with you, it's a great day to sign up for a small group at sagebrush.church/groups. Don't delay diving into a community of people who can walk with you and point you straight to Christ.  

Going Deeper

Going Deeper - 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

"Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don't want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.


12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."

22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

27 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.

29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.

But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all."