Stand Firm Together

Mushrooms or toadstools are actually the fruiting body of a fungus that starts developing in the soil from spores that  were spread there by the wind.  The fungal spores find an opportunity through moisture and decaying matter to begin to grow and develop and mature into the familiar spore bearing structure we often see during moist seasons.

Some people view them as a nuisance as they seemingly disrupt the beauty of the landscape.  But recall, mushrooms like these are decomposers that break down organic matter into a useable food for themselves as well as anything that is in close proximity to the decaying matter.

Fungus form mutually beneficial relationships with plant roots that have a variety of benefits for the plants they are associated with.  This underground relationship is called a mycorrhiza and it provides the plants with many benefits to growth and development.

Mycorrhiza: give the plant an increased ability to take up nutrients and moisture from the soil, improve drought and disease tolerance, reduce stress from weather conditions and transplant shock, and they accelerate plant growth at every stage of development.

Thinking about this symbiotic relationship reminds me of the importance of the community of God in the life of the believer.

When we associate ourselves with others through a deep inner working of the foundation of Christ, we are able to feed off of one another and exchange our lives so that we can both grow and mature and produce much fruit.

Dry seasons will come but because of these deep associations with others, we can ward off a spiritual dearth by the mutual encouragement of those God has placed in our lives for a deep meaningful purpose.

We will inevitably go through difficulties and being in intimate fellowship with other believers helps reduce stress as we can bear each other's burdens by praying with each other and for each other.

All of these scenarios culminate into one grand plan for the church to grow and flourish and produce much fruit.

Like the fruiting bodies of the lawn mushroom, our lives should stand erect in the wind of God's Spirit as we hold one another up.  As He breathes over our deeply connected and integrated lives, our fruit is carried throughout the landscape of the world, awaiting just the right opportunity for new relationships to form.

Relationships were and are of utmost importance to the body of Christ's growth, development, and mutual encouragement.

I Corinthians 16:10-14

When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you,

 for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.  

So let no one despise him.  

Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, 

for a I am expecting him with the brothers.  

Now concerning our brother Apollos, 

I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, 

but it was not at all his will to come now.  

He will come when he as an opportunity.  

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.  

Let all that you do be done in love.  

Our relationships matter to the Lord and it is His design that we be in relationships with other believers that will encourage, strengthen, sharpen and challenge us to stand firm in our faith.  

God has provided an example of divine relationship in the Godhead, where the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit work in and through a mutually cohesive relationship to glorify Christ.  

Father, help us to stand firm together, not as an isolated island that will never be able to grow on its own but as an integrated part of the system of community that you ordained for your people to partake in for our growth and Your glory.  Help us to not avoid deep relationships that will provide us with the necessary nutrients and challenges  to grow and develop into a mature believer who bears much fruit and fruit that remains!