We Are Community

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a post from are monthly contributor Victoria. Since we had SO many posts this past month we were not able to squeeze this post into November. Thus, here is Victoria's post on Community. Enjoy!

As we approach Christmas, we begin to prepare our hearts by remembering the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ came that the glory of His Father might be known throughout all the world for all time. Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished reconciliation between God and His people. What a treasure we have in Him!

When Jesus Christ walked on earth He gathered men and sent them out together. God continues gathering His people and sending them out together. When we are reconciled to God, we become part of the community of believers.

The more time I spend on this earth, I find myself amazed and overwhelmed at the bond that Christians share. I could talk for quite a while about all the times I have met Christians and have been welcomed into their circle of friends, their homes, and their lives with open arms. We welcome each other because God has welcomed us!

This Christmas, it is my hope that we would all come to understand that we are part of a community as well as the responsibility that has been placed upon us.

The world around us demands that everyone mind their own business and leave well enough alone. This is not God’s way of doing things.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25

God’s way is His people considering and stirring one another up to love and to good works. God’s way is His people gathering together and encouraging one another. God’s way is His people calling sin “sin” and fleeing from it.

We have been washed in the blood of Christ and yet it is far too easy to continue on in the ways of our wicked hearts. In light of eternity, there is nothing more loving than to call one another back to the knowledge of the truth over and over again. There is nothing more hateful than minding our own business while our brothers and sisters in Christ struggle with sin.

Let’s close with a few action points:

* Go read Hebrews 10.

* Next time you feel tempted to remain silent or look the other way, remember the cost of      your silence.

* Next time a fellow Christian is bold enough to encourage or confront you, remember the cost of your sin.

Thanks to our Savior, we have communion with God and one another. I think that will make for a very merry Christmas!