20/20 Vision Day 18 - Building Community

When I was growing up, community meant the neighborhood you lived in. Your life was limited to those who lived around you: friends, schools and work within bicycle or bus range. It was before federal school busing when kids went to school in their own neighborhoods. That was community defined as a “body of people having common organization or interests or living in the same place under the same rules.”

Things have changed. The world was smaller then, not like today where communities include global,  geographical, interest-based, professional, and more.  They describe values, programs, strategies, occupations and populations of people with common interests. They help us define who we are, based on the choices we make in joining or committing to a “community”.  Nowadays they describe who we choose to hang out with. I’ve heard one pastor say that your friends are like an elevator:  they can take you spiritually up or spiritually down.  “The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray. Pro 12:26NLT

A true friend helps in difficulties, keeps us on the straight and narrow, and sharpens us. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Eccl 4:9-10 NLT

Proximity, friendship and common desires are the beginning of community. Today, with technology, friendships and communities can be long-distance.  Biblically the same guidelines apply. Here are just a few:

• “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Heb 10:24,25 NLT

• “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2 NLT

• “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” Ps133:1 NL

• “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1Pet 4:10 NLT

Thank you, Father God, for allowing Jesus to come to earth, to demonstrate community with his disciples and followers.  “O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has failed to recognize You and has never acknowledged You, I have known You [continually]; and these men understand and know that You have sent Me.” John17:25AMPC.     Teach us, Lord.