God has created us for community. This need is built into the very fiber of our being, the DNA of our spirit. As Christians our deepest desire is to see the truth of God’s Word as it influences our relationship with others.
We believe that Christians don’t simply gather to exchange doctrinal affirmations; rather believers are called by God to get into each other’s lives. We are family, for better or worse and we need to connect with each other. In fact, we need to connect, grow and serve creating a desire to do the Great Commission together (Matthew 28: 16- 20).
Community is forged in the fires of life. Community grows when we learn to rejoice with one another, to stand by one another in times of trouble, to pray together, to celebrate life. Roots grow deep when we know we are loved by others. Community deepens when we commit to serve each other and let others serve us.
Building community through unity is about serving and helping one another. The single most stirring example of this is recorded in John 13, where Jesus takes the position of the lowest servant and washes the feet of His followers.
He gives them a powerful example and then calls them to follow. Servanthood is at the very core of community. To sustain deep relationships over a period of time there must be humility and a willingness to serve each other.
This act of humbling ourselves makes unity possible and allows us to experience God’s grace at work in our lives, doing something amazing – individually and corporately – in us, through us, and among us all, which ultimately brings glory to Him.
It is a divine cycle that lets us see afresh the evidence that St. Augustine alluded to in that “it was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men angels.” Let’s all look for ways to genuinely humble ourselves.
Transformation of our cities and communities begins in Humility and Unity. As we prepare for our retreat let us pray for God’s direction, being obedient and willing to seek Him first in bringing us together to accomplish His will and not ours, knowing and trusting that all things are possible thru Him. As we prepare for this opportunity that God has provided, let us be steadfast and unmovable, praying without ceasing, obedient, to the author and finisher of our faith.
Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God which causes us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place”. To God be the glory.
Pastor Bruce Hill