This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Godly Community! (WATCH HERE)
On the way to our pastors’ conference yesterday morning I was listening to a podcast by Carey Nieuoff who was a pastor in Canada and now does leadership and ministry development podcast and materials. He was interviewing Jon Tyson, the pastor of the City Church in New York City. There were many great points that were made about Gen Z and the secularization of America and how do we as Christians respond to it.
Two comments caught my attention in regard to today’s focus on Connection. I paraphrase both. First, people are lonelier than ever with many connections that are shallow, but few if any connections that are deep and authentic. People are going through life alone.
For those of us that grew up in a “no screen” era and “no social media” era, we can relate with the reality of what digital devices have done to relationships and conversation. I am not here to slam them, just recognize that we aren’t developing deep, meaningful relationships with people through the digital platform.
The second comment was with men. He observed after going through a four day retreat with his son that there is a lack of safe places where men can be authentic and open up about their thoughts, feelings, worries and concerns.
Enter into this reality in our culture, one of the blessings of the godly community of the church. The church is part of God’s design where relationships are not shallow, but can grow deep spiritually and emotionally. It’s a place where care, love and concern for one another is to be genuine and real.
To be sure, we all have experienced the opposite and unfortunately selfishness, pettiness, politicalness, and more can creep into the church and put a barrier in the way of forming relationships that are meaningful. But again, to write off the church because of such an experience is to miss the blessing that God intended. Again, as a church leader, let me apologize for the misrepresentation of the church and recommit to being a catalyst to foster an environment where connections are superficial but meaningful and real, a place where we are supported and we are part of offering support.
Just consider the many passages that speak about how we are to care for one another in the church and ask, “Is this a place that true connections and relationships can be found?”
Here’s a list from https://www.mmlearn.org/hubfs/docs/OneAnotherPassages.pdf
- Love one another (John 13:34 – This command occurs at least 16 times)
- Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
- Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
- Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
- Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
- Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
- Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)
- Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
- Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
- Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
- Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
- Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
- Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
- Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)
- Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
- Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)
- Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)
- Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
- Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
- Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
- Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
- Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
- Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
- Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
- Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
- Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10)
- Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)
- Pray for one another (James 5:16)
This is quite the list and quite the blessing God gives as we connect in relationships and exhibit these qualities toward one another!
Apply: How can you take one of these attributes and foster it in your relationships at your church? If you are looking for a church, which of these attributes would mean the most to you right now?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessing of your church and the relationships that you encourage and nurture in it. We are blessed by them. Make us a blessing to others! AMEN.