After the usual history taking followed by a series of tests-

– the physician advised the patient that he would have to get rid of the dog that was evidently causing the allergic reaction.

As the man was preparing to leave the office, the doctor asked him out of curiosity if he planned to sell the animal or give it away.
“Neither one,” the patient replied. “I’m going to get me a second opinion. It’s a lot easier to find a doctor than a good bird dog!”
It happens all the time, doesn’t it?

People go around asking person after person for advice until they hear the opinion that matches theirs.

But the reality is that we are the worst judges of our own actions because our opinions of ourselves will always be more favourable than reality.
That’s why throughout Scripture, you’ll find verses like today’s that stress the need to surround yourself with a biblical community who will encourage you with the truth even when you may not want to hear it!
The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone.

There are no “Lone Rangers” of the Christian faith.

So if you don’t have a community of others who know you and will help you grow in Christ-

– join a church Bible study or form a small group that meets weekly.

The best kind of spiritual growth you’ll ever experience will come when you have others who’ll give you the “second opinion” you really need!
Pray and ask God to give you a community of believers who will help you grow in your walk with Christ by encouraging you and giving you the “second opinions” you need!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God” (Col 3:16). 
A disgruntled church-goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained:
“I’ve gone to church for thirty years now, and in that time I have heard something like three-thousand sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. I think I’m wasting my time and the Pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”
This began a major controversy which went on for weeks until someone wrote in this reply:
“I’ve been married for thirty years now. In that time my wife has cooked some three thousand meals. For the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this … they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work…”
So true!
We need our spiritual nourishment to be able to do the work of the Lord effectively!
Corporate worship, fellowship with our brothers and sisters and Godly counsel are a great means to get it!
God does not want us to isolate ourselves!

He wants us to be in consistent fellowship with like minded believers, teaching and exhorting one another, singing psalms and spiritual hymns together!

Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together-
– especially as His return is drawing near! Heb.10-25.