Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. –Mark 6:7 (New International Version)

Jason M. Alexandre, Voices Against the Grain Devotional Writer

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all -2 Corinthians 13:14. The presence and relationship with a fellow brother and sister in Christ is one that is of quintessential quality. For our spirits bear testimony to one another that what we hope for (eternal life) is being worked out day by day in Jesus Christ. This is why we gather on Wednesday nights for Bible study or Sunday mornings for worship service. For we consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the “Day” approaching. –Hebrews 10:24-25

No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith. Friend, the Christian life is often times tough! One might call us fools for Christ. For we work hard with our hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; When we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. – 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 Jesus Christ said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and forfeit their very self (soul)?” –Luke 9:23-25

The tragic part of this matter is that many of us claim to be Believers but not many of us are willing to be disciples. We like to think being a disciple is too overwhelming for us. It’s either our lives are too busy for the likes of Jesus Christ and this Kingdom of God or we don’t yet know that we don’t have to go it alone. Well if you’re worried about going it alone, take courage! Christ never sent his disciples out alone to spread the gospel and he does not send us out alone either. We see an example of when the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them two-by-two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” –Luke 10:1-3

Your Christian brother and sister is ready and willing to encourage you always and hold you up in faith. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Amen

-Jason M. Alexandre

About Jason M. Alexandre

Jason Melchizedek Alexandre was born in November of 1989 in Brooklyn, N.Y. His family later moved to Philadelphia, Pa., and he now resides in Limerick, Pa. In May of 2014, Jason obtained his Master of Social Work degree at Widener University. Professionally, Jason counsels persons who are homeless, parents, veterans, and others who suffer from various kinds of abuse. Although Jason’s career is Social Work, his spiritual passion is missions. Jason believes in actively answering the Great Commission call Jesus gave all Christians for the Gospel to be spread from person-to-person and nation-to-nation. Annually, Jason travels primarily to Haiti on a mission trip with Haiti Christianity Inc. Each year, Haiti Christianity, Inc., visits cities and/or villages in Haiti bringing children educational supplies, clothing, and medical supplies. They also facilitate conferences in which bible study, budgeting tips, financial planning and most importantly, evangelization takes place. Jason is currently the organization’s public relations director. Jason’s vision is for the gospel to continue to spread throughout the world and believes it is Christian’s responsibility to carry out this mission effectively. To learn more about the organization for which Jason volunteers, please visit www.HaitiChristianity.org.