Doing it alone?

So, my friends, Jesus by His blood gives us courage to enter the most holy place... Since we have a great High Priest who presides over the house of God, let us draw near with true hearts full of faith, with hearts rinsed clean of any evil conscience, and with bodies cleansed with pure water. Let us hold strong to the confession of our hope, never wavering, since the One who promised it to us is faithful. Let us consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds, not forgetting to gather as a community, as some have forgotten, but encouraging each other, especially as the day of His return approaches. (Hebrews 10:19-25 VOICE)

If you lack courage to face a holy God, you can find it in the person of Jesus. He made it possible for sinners like you and me to approach the throne room of God with boldness and assurance. Hearst rinsed clean of our evil, bodies clean, minds renewed. This is the work of Christ within each of us - allowing us to be strong, courageous overcomers. Never wavering - is this the condition of your heart and mind? If not, it can be through the finished work of Christ Jesus. All we need is in him. All we ever did that drove a wedge between us and our heavenly Father is washed away by his one perfect sacrifice. We approach, forgiven, made whole, created anew.

We frequently forget what God tells us to do as a 'corporate body of believers'. We are to gather - encouraging one another - never allowing one to slip away or fall behind. I wonder if the 'no man left behind' motto of the U.S. military forces could become our motto within our spiritual families today? If we were to adopt the 'no man left behind' system of operating as a corporate body of believers, how much different would our spiritual growth become? It could just be that we'd see less drift and more forward progress than if we had to do this all alone! If we were to engage with each other in genuine concern for the other's spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational welfare, how much different could this world be?

We are called to 'inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds'. How is it possible that our lives, meshed together in this community of faith, could actually 'inspire' another to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus? If we look at scripture, we get a hint when we read passages such as:

"In the same way that iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend." (Proverbs 27:17) 

"Two are better than one because a good return comes when two work together. If one of them falls, the other can help him up. But who will help the pitiful person who falls down alone? In the same way, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

"For when two or three gather together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

Two are better than one - three much stronger than two. How can we deny the fact that Jesus intended us to live in community and not do this alone? Just askin...