There is much talk in the church and Body of Christ these days about community. Different churches do different things, different people need different amounts of interaction and relationship – but as we draw nearer to the Father and His Word, what does He say to us about community? This passage in Hebrews is such a beautiful build up to community because it gives us perspective. Community among the body doesn’t just happen. It doesn’t just start. It isn’t the beginning of our faith and it isn’t the fulfillment of it, so what role does it play in us walking closer to the Lord?
Let’s start with our identity. Who we are and Whose we are. As women, we are no good in community if we haven’t solidified our place with the Lord. We have confidence to enter the holiest of places because of the blood of Jesus. When our Father sees us, He sees the Son. When we see ourselves, we should see the Son. When we look at other believers around us in our rhythms of life, we should see the Son. Just like the picture of worshippers ascending into Jerusalem to draw near to the Lord, I think this passage gives us a beautiful picture of how we walk closer to the Father and one another in community. And it all starts with identity. Who are we? We are the redeemed of the Lord. The daughters of the Father who sent His Son to pay the ultimate price to be our High Priest.
After that is established, we take our next step. We hold fast to the confession of hope without wavering. We don’t wake and go about our day as lost people who have no hope and no future. We don’t descend upon the world asking for answers or seeking peace. He has given it. Namely, He’s given us Himself and the promise that He’ll return. We move forward in that assurance.
And with that, we take our next step. Toward community. Toward one another. We genuinely consider and ponder and pray about how to stir one another, build up one another, love one another. We don’t just assume that relationships will honor the Lord – we set our sight on walking together, with our identity and hope solidified. In grace, in truth, in love, in expectation, we walk forward day after day, growing together and growing closer to Him.
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I always think “I wish I had a better community of believers.” But in reality, community is first and foremost with Jesus & me.
I've been reading Love Not The World by Watchman Nee. The post today reminded me of his chapter on mutual refreshing. The chapter starts out highlighting the story of Jesus washing his disciples feet and suggests that it isn't merely an example of servant leadership, but an illustration of the importance of ministering refreshment to one another. The idea is that we must live in the world (being in the world and not of it), and, since we are in contact with it and the things of it on a daily basis, there is often a sort of residue, or layer of dust, that can collect and it can make it hard to connect with the Lord in prayer or worship right away. It often takes a bit to engage. The dust isn't sin…just a sort of tarnish from being in contact with the world system.
Our job as a community, as brothers and sisters in Christ, is to wash one another's feet-to help one another brush off that layer of dust-to minister refreshment to one another. This comes easily when we are first in communion with the Lord, which fills us up so that He can overflow and encourage the brothers and sisters that we come across throughout the day and vice versa. And encouraging word. A prayer. A hug. A handshake. It can be that simple.
I love when the Lord "links" what I've been reading from different "sources." He knows what it takes to get my attention. REPETITION.