It's my privilege to serve as the summer pastoral intern here at Shepherd's. This season has given me the opportunity to learn and grow alongside our incredible staff, and it has also given me the chance to spend a lot of time with Michael LaBlanc.

When we hear the word *piety*, we often think about personal spiritual disciplines—prayer, reading Scripture, fasting, worship, and personal devotion. All of these are essential to the Christian life. Yet Christian piety was never meant to be lived in isolation.

The Christian life is both personal and communal. We are called to grow in our relationship with God, but we are also called to help one another grow. The writer of Hebrews reminds us not to neglect gathering together, but to encourage one another and spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Jesus reinforces this truth in Luke's Gospel. When He sends out His disciples into the mission field, He doesn't send them out alone—He sends them in pairs. From the beginning, the work of God's Kingdom has been a shared mission.

Today, we're reminded that piety is not simply about becoming holy by ourselves; it's about becoming holy together.

Hebrews 10:24-25 CEB