Everyday Disciplingনমুনা

5. Interpersonal Relations. Finally, to be a disciple who makes disciples, it’s essential to take time out to make and nurture relationships—to be there for one another, doing life together, as Jesus demonstrated by doing life with His disciples. 

While there are risks, as we step out in faith, we find that the rewards far outweigh the risks. In the book of Ecclesiastes, the teacher helps us grasp why it’s important to take the initiative to develop and maintain relationships with those around us (see Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). 

1. God has designed us to be “better together,” as we get a good return for our work (verse 9). 
2. We can help others (and be helped by others) when we find ourselves “in a pit” (verse 10). 
3. Two keep warm on a “cold night,” and we all can face some very cold nights in this life (verse 11). 
4. Two have a better defense against adversaries (or “the adversary,” the devil) when we’re back to back (verse 12). 

“Heavenly Father, as I grow deeper in my relationship with You through Jesus, help me to ‘do life together’ with those around me as Jesus did with the Twelve. I can picture them after a day of ministry, warming themselves around a fire at the Sea of Galilee, and leaning in to hear Jesus put into perspective the times and events of the day. Similarly, help me to ‘be there’ for those I minister to, ever modeling the way of Jesus in what I say and do and who I am.” 

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We would like to thank Dean Ridings, author of Walking and Talking with God: A Simple Way to Pray Every Day,  for this reading plan. To learn more about discipleship in everyday life, see The Navigators .