There’s close knit community, then there’s worldrace community. God has been teaching me a lot about community before I even realized that was the lesson He was trying to teach me. First in Cape Town, South Africa He gave me a dose of how community carries one another’s burdens. “Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ Gal. 6:2. God is capable of dealing with our burdens and ‘zapping’ us into healing or bringing us out of our sufferings. If He chose to do that every time we asked then what use would the body of Christ be? There would be nothing to refine, purify, and cleanse us and bring us willingly to the foot of the throne of Christ. Nothing bring us closer to God than a difficult situation.
Community is meant to help one another through difficult times and to hold us accountable. We are meant to be the hands and feet of Jesus. As much as it means to help the poor and downtrodden how much more should we uplift our brothers and sisters who desire to do the same thing for our Lord and Creator?
As much as we should help each other carry burden’s, we should also allow others to help us carry our own burdens. So often we believe the lies the enemy speaks to us. Such as they will never understand, they’ve never been through what I have, they will judge me for the poor decisions I have made. Or possibly you are the person that other people always go to so now you feel the only place you can go is to God. As much as He is the one you should go to first, allow Him to direct you to others to help you. To speak His words into your situation. To love you as you desire to be loved. To show you His forgiveness and grace through those in His kingdom who desire to be used by Him to exalt and encourage His body.
“In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are becoming built up together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22 We need others to hold us as we go through struggles and difficulties. God uses others physically to hold us emotionally. Through such intimacy and openness with others we find that we can get to the root of emotional, physical or spiritual dryness by relying on the church of Christ. In building up the church as one body our hearts individually, collectively and willingly become a place where the Lord desires to dwell.
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 God has given each of us gifts to help build up the church but we cannot expect others to step out in it if we choose not to. If we are more afraid of what man may think of our struggles, trials or shortcomings more than we are afraid of blatant disobedience to God then we need to truly reevaluate things deep within our hearts.
Papa, I pray that we would be diligent and intentional with our fellow brothers and sisters. I pray that we would seek your wisdom and discernment in areas of their lives so that we may call them into a deeper greatness than they see in themselves. I pray that You would correct and reposition our hearts before You so that there is not a hint of judgment, condemnation, or malice deceit. I pray for our hearts to always seek you for guidance and wisdom. For humility and gentleness but above all I pray for the truth of Your word to flow from the overflow of our hearts. I pray against the enemy and the lies we have believed, that our problems are minor in comparison, or that no one will understand. I rebuke the lies of the enemy and I pray that you would reveal to us the lies we have believed so that we may turn to one another to find Your glory and wisdom. I pray for continued growth within Your body and uplifting one another in times of need. I pray that as we look for ways to experience Your kingdom here on earth that we would not overlook our neighbors, friends, family, co-workers and other believers sowing for Your mighty kingdom. Above all I pray for Your will to be done. In Your precious and mighty name we pray, Amen.
