Commit to Community

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of are doing, but let us encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:25)

Once we understand that we have been saved to be part of a family of faith, we must answer this question: How do we cultivate community? The answer is, “Frequently!” In order to grow relationships within our family of faith, we must frequently make meaningful contact in genuine fellowship. Growing any relationship takes time, which is why our verse for today exhorts us to keep coming together.

Here is something we must keep in view if we are serious about building community. Community is not built on convenience, but rather on commitment and conviction. We can’t just come together when we feel like it, because, truth be told, most often we simply don’t feel like it! We must be intentional and purposeful about setting aside time out of our busy schedules because it is vitally important for us to continue growing in community. Solitary saints are the number one target of the evil one. Just like a hungry lion patiently circling a herd of zebras, Satan is always prowling around God’s people, looking to pounce on those who have wandered away from community and devour them. This is much harder for him to do when we intentionally immerse ourselves in a great cloud of witnesses.

One of the keys that unlocks the door to building community is forsaking the self and focusing on our Savior, who died to give us a relationship with Him and with all those who are His. We must be willing to jettison . . .

• Self-absorption
• Self-centeredness
• Self-rule

Remember this: We are going to be together forever with our family of faith in the new heavens and the new earth, so the more time we spend with them here and now, the better we will be prepared for the there and then. The church as a whole is far more important than any individual. As my friend Steve Brown likes to say, “All those who belong to Jesus belong to all those who belong to Jesus.” May that truth set us free and inspire us to cultivate community.

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!