- Scripture:
If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
Romans 12:6–10 MSG
Key Verse - Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
- Reflection:
We can’t live the full lives promised to us by Jesus Christ if we’re not in a regular, authentic community with other people. And the Church* can never be the Church not as God intends it if we all aren’t connected in that kind of brotherhood. There are many ways the Church is supposed to work, but through us in the community is a primary one. Community is what brings everyone together and creates the bonds that allow us to work together and get things done. Without it, we are nothing; with it, we can be everything to anyone and everyone. In your Church there are groups that build that create each body within. Those groups reach out and build the community in its likeness. Right now all of have something to give to the small groups we are in. Allow yourself to find out what that is and offer it to the group, the Church, and the community.
Where do we go from here?
Paul wrote that we must commit to honesty, transparency, and accountability. A community doesn’t work without them. It just doesn’t. And we must not presume we know how to “fix” each other, but rather should trust God and the Holy Spirit to do all work that needs doing. Without meaning to, we can do damage spiritually, and relationally when we offer fix-it advice to those who’ve been vulnerable in sharing struggles. It’s much better to listen and ask open, non-judgmental questions and pray something else which Paul says we must do together a lot.
Our Prayer for Today
Father, thank you for allowing us to be in one another's presence helping each other heal. Thank you for allowing those of us who have abilities of conversation, coaching, and mentorship opportunity to listen and be a safe space for those in need of it. It is our honor to be in your presence on the days you create. Amen.