Week 3: Pursuing Together - Lift Each Other Up
In a previous post, we considered the Apostle Paul’s charge in 2 Timothy 2:22 and pointed out the crucial aspects: “flee,” “pursue,” and “with those.” To “flee” and “pursue” is to run the Christian race, but “with those” indicates that the Christian race should be run corporately. (Heb. 12:1) As we run together, we can encourage one another to flee youthful lusts and pursue Christ. But running together has another critical advantage. When we run together, we’re able to lift each other up.
The Christian race is not a sprint but a marathon. This is why we are exhorted to “run with endurance.” (Heb. 12:1) From the moment we believe in Christ Jesus and receive Him into our hearts, our race begins. The longer we run, the more likely we are to trip, stumble, and even fall. When this happens, we should not be discouraged, but get up and continue running. Micah 7:8 says, “Do not rejoice against me, O my enemy; / When I fall, I will rise up.” We may know that the appropriate action is to pick ourselves up and continue our walk with Christ. However, experience shows that getting back up after we stumble or fall is much easier when we have companions to lift us up.
The Scriptures are full of examples that illustrate the importance of companions in our spiritual life and walk with Christ. Daniel had three companions, and the Lord sent out the disciples two by two. (Dan. 2:17; Luke 10:1) Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 tells us, “Two are better than one…For if they fall, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls and does not have another to lift him up!” One of the most striking examples is found in the gospel of Mark. Mark 2:3-5 records the extraordinary effort of four friends to literally lift their companion to Jesus:
And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men. And being unable to bring him to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof where He was. And when they had dug through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, Child, your sins are forgiven. (Mark 2:3-5)
The gospels contain numerous cases in which Jesus admired the faith of individuals who sought Him out. (Matt. 9:22; Matt. 15:28; Mark 10:52; Luke 17:19) But in this instance, Jesus notes not the faith of the paralytic but the faith of his companions, those who lifted up their friend and carried him to the Lord. Let’s consider what this story can teach us about what it means to lift one another up and how we can practice this.
The fundamental takeaway is the importance of being with one another. This may seem obvious, but it’s difficult to lift each other up if we’re not together. As believers in Christ, we are all His sheep and need to flock together. Additionally, we need to know one another. In this digital age, it’s increasingly common to have the appearance of connections but lack genuine relationships. When we build in-person relationships and take the time to truly know one another, we’re better able to recognize when our companions need to be lifted up. The four friends in Mark 2 knew that their friend needed their help, and because they were with him, they could bring him to Jesus.
Bringing each other to Jesus Christ is the primary way we lift each other up. But how can we bring each other to Jesus? One way is by prayer. Paul says that he unceasingly made mention of those in the church in Rome in his prayers. (Rom. 1:9) When we realize that one of our companions might be struggling in their walk with Christ, we can mention their name to the Lord Jesus in our prayers. We don’t need to go into detail or tell the Lord what to do; He knows. (Matt. 6:8) Simply mention their name to the Lord in your prayers: “Lord Jesus, my friend. Lord Jesus so-and-so.” Another way to bring our companions to Jesus is to help them gather together with other believers in Christ. In a previous post, we saw, according to Matthew 18:20, that where two or three are gathered into the name of the Lord, He is with them, in their midst. We don’t necessarily need to bring our companions to large formal gatherings. Simply visiting each other to gather into the name of Jesus Christ will bring us into His presence. When we’re together, we can pray, read God’s Word, and sing to the Lord. All of these exercises are exceedingly practical ways to bring one another to Christ Jesus and lift each other up.
What if our companions feel too disconnected or depressed to read the Bible or pray? Every believer in Christ will eventually face periods of discouragement or feelings of hopelessness. 1 Thessalonians tells us to “comfort one another,” and Galatians 6:2 exhorts us to “bear one another’s burdens.” Our God is “the Father of compassions and God of all comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3) And we all need to have the Father’s heart of compassion for one another. When our companions are feeling depressed or hopeless, we can comfort them simply by listening. We all should learn to be better listeners. Be physically and mentally present; make eye contact, don’t be distracted. Engage with meaningful questions and don’t interrupt. Listen empathically, don’t just listen to respond or solve problems; listen to hear and make others feel heard. If our companions feel heard and understood, they’re more likely to feel valued and less likely to feel alone. By comforting one another, we lift each other up, and once we rise up, we can begin to run again.
We all need help sometimes. And we shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help or speak up when we’re feeling low or when the Christian race feels impossible. The more we’re lifted up, the more we’re able to lift up others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God “comforts us in all our affliction that we may be able to comfort those who are in every affliction through the comforting with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
We hope this post has helped you appreciate the value of having companions and the importance of lifting each other up. Every believer in Christ must run their own race and finish their own course. (2 Tim. 4:7) But we’re not running alone! If we run the race together, we can lift each other up and reach the goal together!
