Your Community Is Precious to God's Heart
Photo by Brooke Cagle
Community is dear to God’s heart, and it is a bigger gift than most of us realize. He made us to be together and to joyfully experience life alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Unfortunately, this perspective of community sounds strange to many of us today.
“How can you say that? Community is painful. I’m surrounded by people who make mistakes and wrong choices. We all hurt one another.”
Yes, sadly, those things can happen, but pain and heartbreak are the result of the fall. They aren’t part of God’s design for community.
Through His work on the cross and later with His resurrection, Jesus returned to us what the enemy took away when Adam and Eve sinned. Our interactions with one another often require forgiveness, but what Jesus did for us enables us to step into His kind of community—the holy design that existed before sin.
We can be one, just as He and the Father are one. This is true in marriage, and it is true with the children of God in general. It isn’t a false hope or wishful thinking; it is real.
Becoming One
You live fully in me and now I live fully in them
so that they will experience perfect unity,
and the world will be convinced that you have sent me,
for they will see that you love each one of them
with the same passionate love that you have for me. (John 17:23 TPT)
When we hear about all the craziness going on in the world today, some of us feel like we can’t really trust verses like John 17:23. It just seems impossible.
But the God who spoke John 17:23 is the God of the impossible. Anything is possible with Him. He could change things in a second and make this world such an amazing place, but He wants us to be a part of the transformation. He created us to be that beautiful ekklesia—a Greek word meaning “assembly”—where we are together with Him in this special place of experiencing intimacy, both with Him and with one another.
It is a sobering thought to realize that Jesus gave it all, shedding every single drop of blood, just to see us redeemed, healed, and back in this place of intimacy and community with Him, where we actually know how much the Father loves us.
The Hope of Glory
This understanding of what Jesus did for us, what His Spirit is still doing for us, and the deep love of God found in the incredible, holy mix of community—that is Christ in us, the hope of glory.
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col. 1:27 NIV)
It was a mystery before, but it’s not a mystery now. Jesus revealed Himself to us, and He keeps on revealing Himself to those who don’t know Him yet.
Community—the ekklesia of God—is the place where we are best able to love others and tell them through our actions how much He loves them and how much He did for them.
Especially during this pandemic, community has been a beautiful thing. Many of us have gone through so much suffering, loss, chaos, and fear, but God is still loving and almighty. He is so present with us.
At BTO, we have seen His mighty hand over us and the people around us. That’s one of the things we’re very thankful for this month.
Think About Your Community
Your community is more than just a group of friends and mentors. It is a special gift to you.
What is one thing you could do this week to honor the community God has given you? Here are a few simple ideas that can spark gratitude in your heart for the wonderful things God is doing in and around you:
Text someone in your community and let them know you’re thankful for them.
Pray for your community. Ask God what He’s doing and how He wants you to pray.
If you’re married or dating someone, take a few minutes to really think about how this person is a blessing to you. Can you see the gift God gave you when He put this person in your life? Let them know with words what your heart feels toward them.
Your heavenly Father loves you more than you realize. Other articles from Salomé Roat and Becoming the One:
For more information on sex, marriage, and finding the person who is right for you, get a copy of Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.