“Dear Church.” that has been our purpose and focus in the message series this past month and will be in the month ahead. The great reality of how God knit us together as Church is that each of us need each other, whether we have been a part of the Family for a day or decades. there is something about being on the same team, whether a long-term veteran or a first-year rookie.

Jackie Robinson is considered the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues starting with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced hostile crowds in almost every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to taunt him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the crowd booed. Then, without saying a word, shortstop Pee Wee Reese went over and stood next to Jackie. He put his arm around him and faced the jeering crowd. Suddenly the fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that that arm around his shoulder saved his career, and gave him the opportunity to become rookie of the year.

There is an absolute guarantee, each of us is going to come under some attack in the era we live, particularly when we love and serve Jesus. When you see someone standing all alone, facing the taunt of an accuser or overwhelming odds, would you come alongside and put-your arm on the shoulder? Then together with God’s help face the adversary and discover opposition can be overcome. It may feel as though we face odds alone. Never was it meant to be that way for the Believer. When Jesus came, he became through His Spirit the “paraclete,” the One Who walks along-side His children. the big plus, He founded “Church” the Body that we too be like Him. We too have this calling to come along-side to encourage, support, and face all odds together. Let it be said of us “Dear Church,” we are just like Jesus.