As fall settles in and the nights come quicker and cooler, I enjoy sitting outside by a fire. Who isn’t mesmerized by the flicking flames and the glowing red embers of a roaring fire pit?

Those embers remind me that Christianity is a relationship with Jesus and His people.

After all, a Christian is someone who has Christ in them. Christ becomes his or her life. So, having a relationship with Jesus means also being in a relationship with everyone else who has Jesus.

When Paul persecuted the early Christians, Jesus confronted him by saying,

 “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4).

Notice that Jesus’ question was not, “Why are you persecuting my people?” But “Why are you persecuting me?”

We’re in this life together—with Jesus and each other. We not only have each other but also need each other.

We’re like coals in a fire. When cold weather comes, you’ll stay hot and glowing as long as you’re with the other coals. But what happens when you remove a single coal from the fire pit? It cools down much faster.

Likewise, if you separate yourself from the warmth of a local church—from the fellowship of other believers—it won’t be long before you grow cold. You were never meant to stay warm alone.

Thought for the day: Churches are the fire pits of spiritual growth, sending light and heat into a cold world.