Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
Scripture repeatedly presents the unequivocal truth that God created all of us to live our lives in the context of community. We see the Word of the Lord pronounced in the creation account: “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18 NKJV), and in the recreation account we read, “The body does not consist of one member but of many” (1 Corinthians 12:14 ESV) and “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” (Hebrews 10:25).
Make no mistake, we were saved individually, but we were saved to community. There is no such thing as “Jesus and me” in the body of Christ; rather, we sing with the saints “Jesus and we!” Sadly, a great many believers live in intentional isolation from the family of faith. And this is one of the greatest goals of our enemy: to get us to live outside of the context of community. The devil delights when we live at the level of “news, weather, and sports” within the church. Far too many Christians refuse to move past the casual into a committed relationship within the family of faith.
You see, at the surface we believe we are “safe.” We don’t have to share what is going on in our lives and in our hearts. We certainly don’t have to share anything about discouragement or spiritual struggles or besetting sins. We add insulation to our isolation and end up living only a fraction of the faith-filled life that Jesus died to set us free to live.
The bottom line is this: We each need each other. We need each other to encourage and equip. We need each other to motivate and minister. We need each other to strengthen and support. We need each other to rebuke and restore. We need each other to learn from and lean on. We need each other for our happiness and our holiness. Jesus set the perfect example of the importance of community. For three-plus years, our Lord walked, talked, ate, served, partied, prayed, ministered, and rested with His twelve disciples and many others who were part of His ministry.
And don’t forget this: Living in community is not primarily about you; it is about Jesus and others. Community empowers you to see the burdens of others with “Gospel eyes” and work together as a family of faith to meet those needs and carry those burdens. Remember, Jesus does not need any of us; He wants us, and He died to make us His. But we need each other. Let that truth set you free to live faithfully in community with fellow believers.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 