In Community

The  word, ‘community’ can be applied in many different scenarios. Community can be a noun or a verb. Living in a community or being part of a church community or a club, means that we are not alone as there are other people who we can speak to a d share our concerns and interests with. Another form of the word is a verb which is used when expressing similar thinking and believes. This can be with family and friends or colleagues. The highest form of community is the oneness with God. Jesus said in John 4:24:

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. 

Abide in me means being in community with Jesus. We are IN him and He IN us. This is the strongest community one can ever have. 

All communities need nurturing to keep good communication going and building trust. To learn to know each other better and to know the strengths and weaknesses of a community takes time and energy. The same energy and time is needed to build community with God. It’s not a given. It’s a situation where God is available 24/7 and it’s up to us to spend time with Him. He literally stretches out his hand to us all the time but if we are distracted by worldly things, we do not grow in Him. This can diminish our relationship with him and can break the close bond which we can have with him. 

Nurturing close community with Jesus is the best investment anyone can make. By spending special time with Him and His word fills our minds with wisdom and our hearts with joy. He gives us access to the unbelievable amount of knowledge and blessings.

The most wonderful promise we receive according to John is that we will be blessed by God giving us our heart’s desires.

Living in community with Jesus changes our heart’s desires. We no longer have financial desires but rather spiritual desires. The fears and worries we have are often related to finances but in His presence we are fulfilled and filled with praise and longing for His peace and joy. The worldly things diminish and the spiritual things become more important than anything. However, God does not only care for us spiritually as He has often proven in His word. He calls a prophet to visit a widow with no oil and flour to bake a bread to pray for her and the oil and flour containers never got empty. He cares for us on a physical level too. 

So how can we nurture the relationship and be in constant community with our best friend and Lord? By starting our day and putting on God’s garment of ‘love’ first.  And by speaking to him whenever we can. Day and night. 24/7. 

May you be blessed with a seeking heart and may you find fulfillment in community with Jesus  

Lord touch the person who reads this piece with your Holy Spirit that he may feel the peace of community in you and you in Him. Thank you for listening to my heart’s prayer. Amen