Life Together
Life together for the church is called fellowship. The word means more than casual conversation, socializing and food. Real fellowship is intended to be “experiencing life together.” God’s view is unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, and comforting one another. Jesus gave us an example of life together as He ministered in the context of a small group of disciples. As was the custom of the early church, every Christian was involved in a small group within their church, whether a home group or bible study. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matt. 18:20) What a tremendous promise in experiencing life together. Experiencing life means:
On the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.” (2 Cor. 2:7) Through fellowship, we are able to give the life and encouragement that can only come from one another to endure the challenges of life. It is an essential part of your Christian life that you cannot overlook. You were created for community. PrayerLord, I commit to experiencing life with others.
When I gather with others, I thank you for Your presence. I will be honest and real with others as you lead me. I will give when I am able to. I will listen to others and try to understand their pain. I will always give mercy instead of harshness and judgment. I will give encouragement as often as I can because you want me to.
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No Longer an OutsiderScripture References: Eph. 2:19, Rom. 12:4-5 DevotionalNow you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” (Eph. 2:19 LB) Wrap your head around this truth that God did not call you just to believe but rather to BELONG. Even in the perfect and sinless environment of Eden, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” (Gen. 2:18). We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves. While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intended for it to be private. In fact, we belong to each other for eternity. So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Rom 12:5 NIV) We are members of His body but the true meaning of this is muddied by our society’s view of membership. We are members of clubs and mailing lists while Paul speaks of being a “member” like a vital organ of a living body - an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ. The church is a body, not a building. We are a living organism, not an organization. For the organs of the body to fulfill their purpose, they must be connected to your body. It is the same with Christ’s body. You and I were created for a specific role, but you will miss that purpose for your life if you’re not attached to a living, local church. Rom. 12:4-5 MSG says, ….we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around…. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body…. Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without …comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.” The church, locally and universally, is God’s agenda for the world. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (Matt 16:18 NLT). His Body is indestructible and will exist for eternity, as will your role in it. Determine to find your place of belonging and embrace being an insider rather than an outsider. PrayerLord, thank you for giving me a place to belong.
Help me to see that I belong to my brothers and sisters in Christ for eternity. My life has meaning as I find my place and function in the Body of Christ. I will be what I was made to be without comparing myself to others. Thank you for making me an insider. The Most Important ThingDevotionalAnd love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is this: live a life of love." (2 John 1:6) Because God is love, the most important lesson He wants us to learn on earth is how to love. Love is the foundation of every command He has given us. Learning to love is not an easy task because it runs counter to our self-centered nature. Aren’t you glad that the Lord has given us a lifetime to learn it? Paul encourages us, When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers." (Gal. 6:10) God wants His family to be known for its love more than anything else. Jesus said that our love for each other, not our doctrinal beliefs, would be our greatest witness to the world. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:35) Small groups are such a priority at our church because love cannot be learned in isolation. You have to be around people, yes, those often irritating, imperfect, and frustrating people. In 1 Cor. 14:1, Paul writes, "Let love be your highest goal!" Love must be our primary objective and greatest ambition with relationships being the most important thing above everything else. Don't get caught trying to squeeze time for others into your schedule. Finding time or making time for others gives the impression that relationships are simply a part of our lives, when God teaches that relationships are what life is all about. It is not by chance that four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God while the other six deal with our relationships with people. Jesus said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:37-40). Relationships, not achievements or acquisition of things are what matters most in life. How you treated others, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth. Mother Teresa said, “It’s not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters.” Learning to love is so important because it is the one thing that you will be evaluated on in eternity. Jesus said, “…inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.” (Matt 25:40). Whether you get anything else done today, make sure that you spend time loving other people because that is what life is all about. It’s the most important thing. PrayerLord, open my eyes to the truth that love is the most important thing.
It may not be easy but I will determine to seek out others today to show your love. I will be known for loving others. It will be my highest priority today. May I live with the attitude that relationships with others, And cultivating those relationships is what life is what matters most in life. I commit to make love the most important goal today. In Jesus’ Name. Chosen to BelongDevotionalSee how much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1) The Bible is the story of God building a family who will love Him, honor Him, and reign with Him forever. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure." (Eph. 5:1). God’s very nature is so relational that He chose to use terms such as Father, Son, and Spirit. God desired a family so much that He devised a plan to create us, bring us into His family, and share with us all that He has. This gives great pleasure to God. The moment you came into the family you were given the family name, the family likeness, family privileges, intimate access, and the family inheritance. You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:26) And as children of God we get to share in the family fortune. Here on earth we are given “the riches of His grace” (Eph 1:7) along with kindness, glory, wisdom, power, and mercy. The glorious inheritance that Paul spoke of includes: getting to be with God forever, being completely changed into the image of Christ, freedom from all suffering, the rewards, and the sharing in Christ’s glory. Paul refers to it as “an inheritance… that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4). This eternal inheritance is what we should be looking forward to and working for as we live our lives. Paul writes, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Col 3:23-24). You and I should be living in light of eternity. Heb. 2:11 CEV tells us, “Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” Let this amazing truth sink in. You are a part of God’s family, and because Jesus makes you holy, God is proud of you. Whenever you feel unimportant, unloved, or insecure, remember to whom you belong. God chose you to belong in His family. PrayerLord, thank you for welcoming me into your family.
You are my Father and I lean on Jesus and the Spirit today. I choose to walk in all of the privileges of being your child. I do this knowing that it gives you great pleasure. I live my life today in light of eternity. My audience is you alone. It is my desire to please you. When I am tempted to feel unloved or insecure I will remember, That You chose me to be a part of this big loving family. When It Seems He Is HidingDevotionalI will wait for the Lord to help us, though (it seems) He is hiding now. My only hope is in Him." (Isaiah 8:17) It is easy to worship God when things are going well in your life but what do you do when circumstances are not so pleasant? What do you do when God seems a million miles away like the words of Isaiah portray? Know this, that the deepest level of worship is thanking God during a trial, trusting him when tempted, and loving him even when He seems distant. Besides Jesus, David probably had the closest friendship with God of anyone, God calling him “a man after my own heart.” Yet David frequently complained of God’s apparent absence saying, Lord, why are you standing aloof and far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?" (Ps. 10:1). He has not promised that you would always feel his presence. How can we “keep the faith” when God appears to be missing-in-action in our life? God wants us to sense His presence, but is more concerned that we trust Him than that we feel him. Remember that it is faith, not feelings, that pleases God. First of all, regardless of circumstances and how you feel, hang on to God’s unchanging character and nature. Remind yourself of what you know to be eternally true about God: He is good, He loves me, and He has a good plan for my life. Even when Job’s life fell apart, Job found things he could praise God for.
Secondly, trust God to keep His promises. It is during spiritually dry times that you must rely on the promises of God rather than your emotions. Even in the absence of confirming circumstances, Job held on to God’s Word saying, “I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:12). When you weather the feelings of abandonment, yet continue to trust God, you are worshipping God in the deepest way. This is the essence of faith and as the scripture says, the just shall live by faith. Hang onto the faithfulness of God, knowing that He has never left you despite how you may feel. PrayerLord, despite what is going on in my life, I trust you.
Just because I endure hard times does not mean that you’ve left me. Thank you for promising to never leave me. Despite what I may or may not feel, I know that you are with me. I know your nature and character. I see it in the Bible and I have experienced it myself. So, I choose to focus on your goodness rather than my struggles. In Jesus’ Name. Friendship is a ChoiceDevotional
Did you know that you are as close to God as you choose to be? Developing your friendship with God won’t happen by accident. It will take time, energy, and desire on your part. BE HONEST with God. God doesn’t expect you to be perfect, but He does insist on complete honesty. Abraham questioned and challenged God over the destruction of the city of Sodom. God listened patiently to David’s many accusations of unfairness, betrayal, and abandonment. Jeremiah claimed that God had tricked him and Job was allowed to vent his bitterness in the midst of his ordeal. In all of these examples, God listened and did not dismiss His servants for their honesty. What may appear to some as audacity is authenticity in God’s eyes. Be honest with God, sharing your true feelings, not what you think you ought to feel or say. David wrote, “I pour out my complaints before Him and tell Him all my troubles. For I am overwhelmed.” (Ps 142:2-3). It is encouraging to know that all of God’s closest friends - Moses, David, Abraham, and Job did not mask their faults and bouts with doubt but rather, candidly voiced them openly and publicly. Expressing your true feelings is the first step toward intimacy with God. OBEY GOD IN FAITH Every time that you trust God’s wisdom and do whatever He says, even when you don’t understand it, you deepen your friendship with God. Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command.” (Jn 15:14). Although we hold a position of friendship with God with special privileges, we are still subject to the king and have to obey His commands. We are friends with God but we are not His equals. He is our loving God and we follow Him. VALUE WHAT GOD VALUES Friends care about what is important to the other person. The more you become God’s friend, the more you will care about the things He cares about. In Paul’s life, God’s agenda was his agenda, and God’s passion was his. “The thing that has me so upset is that I care about you so much—this is the passion of God burning inside me!” (2 Cor. 11:2 MSG). God cares about the redemption of His people and His lost children being found. Let’s do the same. DESIRE FRIENDSHIP MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE David said, “The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory.” (Ps. 27:4 LB) Paul wrote, “ [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly],” The truth is - you are as close to God as you choose to be. God told Jeremiah, “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” (Jer. 29:13 MSG) Remember, it’s your choice. You are as close to God as you choose to be. Prayer"Lord, as I seek you today, I will be honest with You.
I will share my true feelings with you, knowing that You always accept me. I will trust and obey your direction, even when I don’t understand it. Help me to see others the way You do. Change my heart to value what You value - precious people. Your friendship is my highest priority, no matter what. I choose to seek after you, today and forever. In Jesus’ Name." Strengthening Your Friendship with GodDevotionalAs you continue to strengthen your friendship with God, remember constant communication with God as the first practical and daily practice. Secondly, remember: Continual meditation on His Word. Establishing a healthy friendship with God includes thinking about His Word throughout your day. As David said, I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works.and think about what you have done.” “I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor and Your wonderful miracles.” (Ps. 143:5, 145:5 NLT) It is impossible to be God’s friend apart from knowing what He says. You can’t love God unless you know Him, and you can’t know Him without knowing His Word. While you cannot spend all day studying the Bible, you can think about it throughout the day, recalling verses you have read or memorized and mulling them over in your mind. Meditation is simply focused thinking, a skill that anyone can learn and use anywhere. When you think about a problem over and over, it is called worry. When you think about God’s Word over and over in your mind, that is true meditation. On your 40 Days of Life, determine to switch your attention from your problems to the promises from God’s Word. The more you meditate on God’s Word, the less you will have to worry about. A big reason that God considered Job and David his close friends was that they valued His Word above everything else. Job said,
Want to get the inside scoop with God? Develop the habit of thinking about His Word throughout the day. When you read the Word or hear a message, don’t carelessly walk away and forget it. Instead, develop the practice of reviewing the truth in your mind and thinking about it over and over. The more you spend meditating on what God has said, the more insights and understanding you will receive - the secrets that others may miss. Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone He shares the secret of his promises." (Ps. 25:14) Prayer’s focus lets you speak to God while meditation’s focus lets God speak to you. Both are essential to becoming a friend of God. Prayer“Lord, today I will think about all that you have done in my life.
I will think about your Word throughout my day. I will allow Your Word to speak to me. Instead of focusing on my problems, I will meditate upon Your promises. I will value your Word over natural food. And as I do, I thank you for great understanding and insight into Your Word. In Jesus’ Name” |
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