Daily Delight
Community is intertwined into the Christian faith. We’re taught to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31, NIV). We are followers of a God who set the stage by coming to Earth and wiping our slates clean; he remained sinless when Pharisees questioned his divinity, when crowds shouted for his execution—the same neighbors, you and me, who he came to save.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34, NIV). This, Jesus asked for us after we affixed His body to a tree. This, He said when the crushing weight of man’s sin was being paid with His life.
Following Jesus isn’t easy; for us to follow the steps of Jesus, we have to aim to live like He did. In the ultimate bout of persecution, He was thinking about you and your salvation. I can say with complete certainty that I fall miserably behind His example. When is the last time you faced a difficult situation and thought solely of another’s salvation? It wasn’t about the last word, or injured pride, or coming off as ‘right’.
When we consider how to approach others in community, we should look to Jesus. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV). We can draw two things from Hebrews 10. One, a community centered on Jesus should urge one another to emanate love and good works. And two, we need to dedicate time to encourage community.
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." -Matthew 18:20 (ESV)
Christ knew we couldn’t go it alone. He’s been in our shoes, faced our challenges, bore our sin…and he did it all with abundant grace and mercy. Even Jesus had disciples—His closest friends, His trusted followers. Gather together, spur one another on and continuously look to His example.
{photo: @byhannahrose}
About the Author
Samantha Brooks
≫ ≫ Samantha is a native North Carolinian studying Communications-PR. She loves coffee, people, and the joy that worship brings. In her free time, Samantha loves to write and paint. Her very favorite bible verse is Psalm 139:14: I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.