Better (and sometimes harder) together

I hear the account of David and Bathsheba and my hearts sinks.  I'm familiar enough with the events that when I get to the opening line, "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war..." (New International Version, 2 Samuel 11:1), I know what is coming next.  I want to scream, "David, go to war with your army!  Don't stay home.  This is only going to end badly!"  Of course, David doesn't go with the army.  He stays home, sees Bathsheba bathing, calls her to his room and, well, let's just say it ends in a mess that involves violation of marriage vows, lies, conspiracy with others, murder of a trusted companion, and a baby's death.
David thinks he has covered his tracks, but God knows what the king He chose has done.  Because sin must be addressed, God sends Nathan the prophet to confront David.  Imagine that you were Nathan.  You have to challenge the king, and for doing so you know you could die.  Based on David's reaction to the parable Nathan tells (a man and his beloved sheep), Nathan had good reason to be afraid.  When David acknowledged that he was the guilty party, he could have killed Nathan and eliminated more evidence.  He could have kept his many sins secret.
Thankfully, David received what God said through Nathan.  Nathan helped David see that his sin was destroying him.  Nathan led David to repentance that shaped his reign as king and pointed the people to the loving and forgiving God who had saved them time after time.
When I am on my own, I can often pretend that I'm okay.  I can dismiss or rationalize sin.  I can act like I'm not hurting anyone else.  But in the community of faith, I have friends who can help me see the truth.  I have dear brothers and sisters who point me to Jesus.  I have family that can help me as I follow Jesus.  Sometimes it seems harder, but the truth is, following Jesus is better together with others.
That's why our 60 day challenge is to worship TOGETHER, study TOGETHER, serve TOGETHER.  It is better together.  That is how God designed it.