Community - A Means of Grace

 "...because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9b

We often feel like the difficulties, pains, suffering, etc we are currently going through are the worst, and no one will understand how much we are putting up with, or hanging in there.

On one hand, it is true. Because you are unique and individual. Your emotions to situations, your blend of difficulties and your triggers to what causes you anxiety, or the straw that breaks ur back is unique.

Yet on the other hand, the situation itself, the fact that there are seasons where a collection of difficult circumstances happen concurrently is not unique.

The Word exposes this lie "that you are alone" or "no one can understand". The Word reminds us that there are others in the world who are undergoing the same kind of suffering (or also having very difficult circumstances), and still holding out their faith.

Be encouraged and find community who can lend you strength when you own strength wanes - Corporate gatherings & Worship in community are also means of grace offered to us for the Journey to Really Live. :)

The God who makes things happen...

 

Photo taken from this post by BroHenson

In this Pentecost season, we ae reminded of how God poured His spirit & ability upon His followers in the book of Acts and they supernaturally spoke in a new language, that is not their native tongue.

The foreigners among them heard and wonder how it is that these jews could speak their language! And in that language, they heard the gospel & praises proclaiming God's works, and came to accept Christ as Lord.

Pentecost for us
This reminded me of the conversation we had in our cell group the week before. We shared about our ideas and hopes to see various improvements in the area where we serve. Whether it is hoping for more capable talents, clearer roles & responsibilities or more efficient structure and work process, we all had our "wish list" and thoughts. 

But in the midst of that discussion, a wise sister shared "that is why we need faith and we need to humble ourselves. If all these "better ways" were implemented, would it not be so easy to say that it was our wisdom and ability that brought success to whatever it is we are trying to achieve? We need to learn to open our hearts, embrace everyone as they are, love them where they are, and trust that if these are the people and resources he has placed here, He can use all of it and bring His work to pass. It is Him to make things happen, not our cleverness or capability." 

Paul shares directly in 1 Corinthians 1:24-30

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him (Christ) to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

Sure, we need to continue to learn, and equip ourselves in the spirit of excellence to serve the Lord and all He has called us to. But when we start getting frustrated, when our hearts start growing bitter and when we start to linger in complaining, we have departed from Wisdom - Wisdom that is Christ himself. Wisdom that says God has united us with Christ Jesus. 

Collectively as His people, God made us pure and holy. His Spirit has been pour upon us as one, that even in our weaknesses combine, God is still wiser than the wisest of human plans.

This is a call to humility on our part, and a call to abide in the Vine which gives us all the Life we need. It is a reminder that if we want to boast, let us boast about the Lord, His ways, His workings. And if we are frustrated, and when we look at the seemingly "incapable" or "insufficient" situation, let us enter His Presence, draw close, humble ourselves and ask for His Grace, Mercy, Wisdom and Faith, to keep trusting that His plans cannot be thwarted by our lack of ability.

We may not have the best tech, or experts or coordinators in charge. But perhaps it is through these gaps that the Holy Spirit uses to prod others to rise up and offer their talents; and 

in a divinely orchestrated manner, the Kingdom of God advances, in God's fullness of time, in God's way, through God's people where "His power is made perfect in our weaknesses" (2 Corinthians 12:9); that at the end of it all, the world may "see our works, and praise our Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

For all things and in everything, 

May all Glory be unto our Lord alone!

Community is messy business...

Community is messy business.

Picture of drawing of what community means,
put together through the collective effort of
Forerunners Adults & Children in Aug 2012

2 hours ago, a group of leaders met up and shared about how each of our communities are doing, the help needed and sought each other's insights on how we should proceed on various matters. And I left the session overwhelmed about how messy community life is. 

Forget the wonderful picture discipleship books paint about how wonderful and supportive community life will be IF everyone embraces the same principles, put their hands to the plough and regularly come with joy and gladness, ready to love everyone, or extend generous help when someone is in need. 

Reality is not quite so rosy. Many of us come tired, our patience a little challenged, our spirits a little prickly and easily offended (though we may not admit it so readily). 

On some days we come because....it's a commitment we made to our leaders - we need to come and support, boost the numbers, because, well...we are the regulars you know. 

On other days, we secretly wish in our hearts the meeting will be cancelled so we can take a break, have a night to...well... just rest. There are days & seasons where the weight of life become too heavy for us and we no longer have capacity to engage with any more social interactions. I get it. Because I feel that too.

Community can be frustrating, because we are all very different individuals, and very human; and

Community is messy, because... life is messy.

We, and others bring all our wonderful self, as well as our messes into our interactions. So it is hardly surprising that we frustrate each other (some more than others... 😆 - and myself included.)

Community is God's business

Then I read 1 Corinthians 3...

"Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?..." (1 Cor 3:1-3)

How exasperated Paul might have felt. How frustrating that after the years of leading, teaching and encouraging, the Corinthians were still acting so... childish!

Still he reminds them (and us!) that "What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose." (1 Cor 3:7-8) We labor & advocate for meeting in community, speaking into each other's lives, praying for & prodding one another for the same purpose - that the Lord will make seeds grow, and the people of God will build their lives upon the foundation of Christ Jesus (v11), and that God's temple - the church of Christ (v16) - will be Holy (v17) and their hearts will belong to Christ wholly (v23). 

Paul reminds the Corinthians & us, that Community is God's business.

"Don’t you realize that all of you TOGETHER are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives among you" (v16). 

And God is jealously guarding His Temple and ensuring it's completion in the Fullness of His time. Anything that comes against the growth, maturing and glory of His temple, he will destroy. His temple (the community of His people, His church) is precious to Him!

"God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple." (v17)

We're not struggling to hope things will happen. We are praying & laboring to proclaim to those in our community, the Truth, that "It has happened! It is Finished! Christ is Risen! Arise! Shine! The light has come!"

So:

to the passionate ones: Do not let your heart be weary. Christ has won the victory and He has a sure end for His Church, one that is a glorious bride, a Holy Temple. Come and follow Him. Let His Spirit enfold you and strengthen your hearts. For You belong to Christ. That is your (and our) assurance and peace.

to the ones laboring: Labor in Christ and remember we are in this TOGETHER. You are not alone.

to us all who are TOGETHER, the temple of God, who have the Spirit of God dwelling among us: let us press on in our pursuit of holiness, and be hungry for more of His Glory in our lives and in our communities. And let's encourage each other to keep doing this TOGETHER.

Because Community is God's Business.