The last post talked about the promises that we have as we process and journey through life. Focusing on the Lord’s faithfulness and the hope we have in pursuing intimacy with His heart, that post was concerned with our heart posture toward the secret place for the long term. This week’s post will focus on the integral role of community as we go along life’s journey.    

Our greatest comfort and joy is knowing the Prince of Peace and Lord of the Nations. While the history that we build with Him in the secret place should always be enough to sustain us, we were also made to live in community with one another. There is blessing that comes in united and peaceful communities. This blessing extends into every area of life and holds significant corporate and individual influence. Beyond blessing, though, community also creates an environment where our hearts can be edified. Proverbs 27:17 depicts this idea:

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

When we invest into healthy, kingdom based relationships, our hearts are called into greater levels of holiness and purity. Words of encouragement, edification, and comfort flow cyclically in healthy gospel communities (1 Thess 5:11). The courage and grace we put into others will gradually be returned to us as healthy community dynamics thrive. The result is uplifted and encouraged hearts with ever expanding capacities to worship and facilitate the advance of the kingdom.

Another important aspect of community is authority. Throughout the Bible, structures and systems of authority are established and defined. In the Old Testament, Kings and Judges ruled over the people (Judges 2:16). Living under the rule of these authority figures helped to guarantee blessing, prosperity, and safety for the people. Biblical authority within community has similar ramifications for us today. For instance, submitting to pastors and elders allows us to live under the protection and covering of their wisdom (Heb 13:17). By remaining under their authority and acting with honor and humility, our hearts are positioned to receive godly counsel, blessing, teaching, protection, and leadership (Titus 3:1) (1 Thess 5:12). For this reason, it is important to find and become connected in a church or community of people that adhere to biblical and kingdom core values.  

By becoming connected in a local, gospel-centered community, we not only receive encouragement and blessing, but we are also able to use our special gifts and talents.

When we use these gifts in the right time and season, they open channels of blessing for us and our community. Because each person has been uniquely created in the image of God, each person has unique gifts and talents (Eph 4:11) (Romans 12:5). Each person, and the gifts they have are tremendously important. There will truly be no lack if each member of the community is serving according to their gifts and capabilities for the season that they are in (2 Cor 8:15).  

So, Dear Saints, seek out and become actively involved in a gospel-centered community. Maintaining the importance of the secret place first and foremost, allow your heart to be vulnerable in community as you encourage and serve the people around you. Submit to biblical authority and watch as encouragement and blessing begins to well up in your life.