Community, Part 5

5. The Father and Son, more than anything, loved each other. “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 5:16 - emphasis added). If God is love, all that he does must spring out of that character, that very nature. John 5:20 says, “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.” The Father and Son loved each other deeply and it showed in all of their interactions. When Jesus was baptized, “a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are my beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’” (Mark 1:11). There are countless verses reflecting the love of the Son and the Father. There are also numerous verses encouraging us to love each other. In John 13:34, 35, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus commands us to love one another. It’s not a suggestion or a good idea for getting along. We are commanded to love one another. This is our main strategy for showing the difference Christ makes in our life. Love on the faces and in the hearts of teammates shines brighter and speaks louder than any gospel tract or five-point sermon. Our love will show who we belong to.

These five things I commit myself to: to effectively communicate with my teammates, to have a unified purpose with my team, to exalt my teammates above myself, to trust and prove myself trustworthy, and to love my teammates. Living in community scares me. I’m not used to relying on others. I’m not used to having to trust others. But I’m afraid that if I don’t, I’ll never survive.

Lord, help me to live in community with those around me. Erase my anxiety and allow me to rest and trust in you. You are the bond that ties all of our unique personalities together, and you are the reason we are here. Give me opportunities to be vulnerable, honest, and to trust. Help me, Jesus. Help me do that which I have never really done before.