Today’s writing has been a holy echo for me. I keep hearing the word community over
and over in sermons and other areas of my life.
So, with that, I said; “Okay Lord, I am listening…” And here we are 😊
Let’s get the basics out of the way first…
When I looked up what is community I found:
A group of people existing in a
place that share; a purpose, a sense of belonging, and communicate with each
other.
Covid decimated community in 2020. Everyone became islands by themselves and alone. I try not to take stock in surveys or
research. However, I did see that there
are many studies sharing how loneliness increased significantly due to Covid. We have been slowly moving back into our routines,
but some have chosen to stay away permanently.
Look what happened to the church. You walk into most churches today and there
are many people who haven’t returned. The
seats remain empty. They will tell you
they are going ‘online’ or have other excuses.
Online is a great opportunity for those who cannot go for physical
reasons. My mother was physically unable
to attend towards the end of her life, so we used to go online together to be fed
spiritually. The problem with that is we
missed out on community and fellowship.
We only had each other.
Community, the church can be there easier when we are In
church. Remember the toolbox story I wrote? If not scroll back to the beginning of the
year to find it 😊 It’s
harder to be there for someone if you are not present. It’s harder to ask for help when you are home
and not with other believers. The enemy
gets in our head faster when we are alone and without others.
The enemy would like nothing better than to keep it that
way. The best way an animal can catch
its prey is by separating it from the herd.
As Christians, when we are separated, we become vulnerable to
attacks. Next thing we know, we are
listening to the enemy whispering in our ear.
Discouraging us, confusing us…
Covid has become a convenient excuse to bow out of society for some. We are not meant to be alone. We can’t function as an island. It is not healthy physically or mentally.
God has a plan for each of us. Remember Jeremiah 29:11?
We need each other to complete the plan. We cannot do this alone. We need community. We need fellowship. God calls us to fellowship together for strength
and encouragement.
Each of us is a piece of the puzzle. Don’t let the puzzle fall apart by separating
from community.
Step out in faith with me today! Be a part of Community…
1 Thessalonians 5:11
'Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing. '
'And let us 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. '
'Two are better than one, because they have a good return
for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But
pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down
together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may
be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not
quickly broken. '
No comments:
Post a Comment