Communityનમૂનો

We really need each other

After many decades I’ve concluded that it requires three essential elements to succeed and thrive in our Christian walk: words, presence and company. The words are the Word of God. The presence is a cultivated closeness to God and prayer. The company is fellowship and community. ‘One another’ (NKJV) implies a group of people helping each other to ‘provoke’ (KJV), or to inspire and encourage each other to love and help those around them.

Only today a farmer friend shared that on a recent working trip he ended up in hospital for four days with suspected heart problems. No cause or damage was found but returning home one of the members of his church asked how he was, and she informed him that she had been praying for his health three times a day for the last two weeks. That is community.

I could fill a whole booklet with biblical encouragement and inspiring stories about the value of community from my past, but I’m just as interested in you discovering real community in your future. Paul’s encouragement for us to assemble ourselves together implies not just that we go to church but that we find a group of like-minded believers whom we can fellowship with, work together with and build something substantial for God and His people. Our prayer is – ‘Lord thank you for the people you put around me, or lead me to that group where we can mutually support each other until You come again.’

Written by JOHN SCOTT