Finding Communion

When others are happy, you should be happy with them. And when others are sad, you should be sad too. Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else. (Romans 12:15-16)

Live together in peace. Good idea, but tough to actually execute. We might set out to live at peace with others, finding our attempts at 'peaceful living' are met with resistance from all sides. Try as we might, living 'at peace' with each other is just not possible unless Christ is brought into the center of the 'living'. When Christ is central in the relationship, there will still be difficulties, but there is a power beyond our human reasoning or fickle emotions that helps us to bring resolution to the issues. We need to be willing to listen to one another, but dare I say we also need to be able to hear one another. This is where Christ does his work - he helps us to look beyond the surface (what one displays on the outside) and hear beyond the words (the emotion behind what is said).

As Christ left this earth, he commissioned his disciples to continue his work of reconciling the world to him. In so doing, the disciples encouraged the believers to put away differences, focusing on the unity of the faith. Unity is only possible where God's peace dwells. Plain and simple - we cannot 'create' peace in our own efforts. We will find ourselves always trying to please people if we do. God isn't after 'people-pleasers' - he is after peacemakers. That means we let him guide our thoughts, words, and actions so that we find ways of being a blessing in the lives of others, regardless of their ability or willingness to return the blessing. That might rub a few the wrong way because we have the idea that if we 'do unto others as we would have them do unto us' that they are kind of 'obligated' to return the blessing. Unfortunately, there is no 'obligation' for them to be kind or loving in return.

Pride gets in the way of being peacemakers, doesn't it? We might not realize how much we feel we deserve better than we are getting, but when that attitude begins to creep into our hearts and minds, we are going to lean toward the 'expectation' of kindness and love. Instead of it being a willing exchange between us, there comes this sense of 'obligation'. Obligation leads to unmet expectations, and the hard feelings that follow can soon lead to bitter feelings. This is why God reminds us to share in each other's sorrows and happy times. When we commit together to 'share all things in common', we are putting down our pride and allowing others to get to know us as we are. In so doing, we are developing genuine community. We may not put all our resources in common like they did in the early church, but when we begin to mesh our lives one with another, focusing on Christ first in all we do, we soon find the communion Christ intends for his followers. Just sayin!

A defensible position

The seventh Psalm starts out with the words, "I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!" We know that David spent a great deal of time either running from Saul and his warriors or fighting one battle after another to maintain his kingdom - and some of those battles were from within his own family. There is probably something quite 'practical' in these words because a warrior needed protection on occasion - just to get away from it all and to recover from the fight. An area of 'strong defense' was a godsend to a warrior. For David, he might have needed a 'physically defensible position' from which he could take refuge. It is also quite possible he may have needed a 'spiritually defensible position' where he could be renewed and refreshed 'in the battle'. 

We need both on occasion - a physical place that brings us a sense of safety and a spiritual place where our emotional and spiritual health is renewed. One without the other is really not all that great. Maybe that is why we have these examples in scripture, showing us that it is never wrong to need a 'place of retreat' along with the time to actually 'heal within the retreat'. One thing we may not realize about a place of refuge is that the warrior usually sought one not so much to hide and recover, but one that gave him an excellent 'defensible' position. That meant battle could be done from that place, but he had the advantage of those attempting to bring and attack against it. In other words, it wasn't a walled-off canyon, but a high vantage point that made it hard for the enemy to attack with him unaware of the enemy's approach.

Most of the time, we 'retreat' and think it means we just let our guard down. A place of refuge didn't mean the warrior no longer needed to keep guard over his life. It meant he was in a position to 'fight a good fight' - one he was likely to win because of the 'position' he enjoyed. When our defensible position is 'in Christ', we are both 'renewed' for the battle, and able to utilize the best of 'strategies' to overcome the enemy's attack. Without this 'defensible position', we are sitting ducks! Why would we choose to 'fight' alone? Psalm 3:5-6 reminds us, "I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side." The key to victory is found in finding that 'defensible place' in life. There is no better 'option' than to be 'in Christ'! Just sayin!

It is all about communion

I know, dear God, that you care nothing for the surface—you want us, our true selves—and so I have given from the heart, honestly and happily. And now see all these people doing the same, giving freely, willingly—what a joy! O God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this generous spirit alive forever in these people always, keep their hearts set firmly in you. (I Chronicles 29:17-18)

There is a saying that goes something like, "You cannot put lipstick on a pig" - meaning that it is pretty much impossible to improve anything that is bad and stinky. There are lots of times I think we try to 'put lipstick on the pig', trying to make ourselves look kind of good on the outside, but forgetting that the character on the inside is what God is really after. Some may even dress up really nice for church and live like the devil the rest of the week.

While God doesn't want us going around all dirty and stinky, he also isn't as concerned about what the outside looks like as he is about the inner workings of our heart and mind. He wants those dedicated to him, first and foremost, then willing to use the grace we have been bestowed to bless the lives of others around us. Ever try to 'outgive' God's grace? It is impossible, but I have seen some try to do one good work right after another, all in the attempt to somehow do 'enough' to deserve God's blessings in their lives.

It is a futile effort to live that way, though. God cannot be 'outgiven'. His grace is limitless because our need for it is also limitless! He brings one wave of grace after another, all for the purpose of helping our minds become uncluttered, hearts undivided, and spirits undefeated. There is something that is a natural outcome of being blessed by God - giving from a grateful and dedicated heart. This is fine, but doing good works to get more blessings is never God's intent!

A generous spirit stems from embracing the generosity of God's grace. When we begin to see our emotions settled, our thoughts reordered, and our empty spirit filled to overflowing, the outcome is worship and praise. That gift of worship may not seem like much to 'give back' to God, but it is the greatest thing he can receive. Why? It lets him know we have connected our spirit with his and we are settling into the place of communion with him. This is what God is after. Even when David and Solomon set about to collect all the materials needed to construct the Temple of the Lord, the 'gifts' were not just about 'giving' - they were about communion. Just sayin!

No two pots alike

In the field of medicine, we often use the phrase, "See one. Do one. Teach one." It describes the process of not only being told "how" to do something, but demonstrating you are going to do it with consistency each time. The other night, I made mom a pot of soup as she had been saying she fancied homemade soup. I had lots of ingredients for the vegetable dense soup, complete with 97% fat free ground beef with which I created a multitude of tiny meatballs to add the mix. She loved it. After it was all gone, she asked if I'd make another pot, but if you know how I make soups, you will quickly know that no two pots turn out exactly the same! I add a little of this, that, and the next thing until I reach the taste I am looking for with whatever ingredients are available at the time. Needless to say, she ate it and enjoyed it very much, but as she said, "It wasn't quite the same." The consistency was not there between the two pots of soup because there was no set recipe I followed and that made the 'experience' of the soup different each time. In our walk with Christ, there is room for unique experiences, but there is great value in developing consistency!

We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.  (I John 1:3)

Fellowship is more than an acquaintance with someone. It is a closeness of relationship that involves companionship - that type of relationship that is comfortable. For many people, fellowship with a holy God is a scary and overwhelming thing. There is a fear of entering into fellowship, finding they are getting too close to God for comfort, because God is good and we are not. Communion, or fellowship, speaks of a degree of intimacy that is not easily "faked". It must be genuine - developing over perhaps years - and is not easily broken. Our communion with God is the same. There are no short-cuts into fellowship with God. If we have fellowship with God, we have fellowship with one another - a condition that will definitely encourage our growth and development. If we have been affected by the blood of Christ, we are on a pathway of being purified from all sin.

That should give us encouragement that we are able to approach a holy God - it should also give us hope that we can develop this type of intimacy with him. God knows that we are "visual" people - we often need to see something to fully understand it. So, in his love for us, he gives us each other - in order that we might learn the principles of fellowship (communion, intimacy). The next time you look at a close friend, or even a budding acquaintance, rest assured that he/she is placed in your life to teach you some of the principles of true fellowship. They are also there to help us learn the 'consistency' of fellowship and communion - a type of "life-line" for our continued growth and development.

There are all kinds of reality shows these days where folks are left on islands, devoid of the trappings of home, and often devoid of other human contact. The 'alone' experience is not all that some think it will be - they absolutely cannot live without that human contact. Some have said that companionship (fellowship) is a basic need for humans - without it, we wither up and are not able to meet our full potential. We are created as social beings. Love is something we both need and are required to give away. It is a two-way street. We crave relationship on one hand, yet fear it on the other. The neat thing about God's plan is that he always brings someone across our path that will help us learn to love. We often find ourselves gravitating toward someone who has learned to love well - thereby learning how to love well in return - becoming more and more consistent in our love. We are looking for models all around us - we are imitators of what we see, hear, and experience.

This is exactly why God sets us up in the local church - to learn to love as he loves. It is a place of "learning". We "learn" to be companionable creatures - often by trial and error. We "learn" to be truthful and we learn to hold onto a truth that has been shared. In time, we "learn" to trust deeply. God has been providing us with the opportunities to develop intimacy in natural relationship so that we understand the aspects of intimacy with him (fellowship). The invitation is to come into fellowship. The opportunity for fellowship is two-fold: first with God, second with those he puts in our path. We learn to be comfortable in companionship from other "path dwellers" as they serve to drive us deeper into companionship with our God. As we learn to love God, we are also learning to love those individuals along our path. Love is reciprocal - it must be experienced and passed on - it must become consistent.

The more we desire to love God, the more we will desire to love those he places in our path. What are your other "path-dwellers" showing you about God's love, grace, and joy? What are they exposing in you that brings you to your knees? What are you exposing in them that brings them to their knees? Remember...love is experienced in stages - each building upon the other - exponentially. Fellowship with God grows in the same way - one revealed truth after another. Come into communion (fellowship) with God and experience what he has for you today. In time, consistency will develop. Just sayin!

Give God some face time!

Not much of what I own actually lasts forever.  In fact, many things have to be regularly "weeded out" in order to make room for fresh or new items.  Why?  They show their wear and tear, or they are spoiled by the time they sit around.  Such was the case when I took out a bottle of vegetable oil to make some cupcakes a few weeks ago.  The bottle was nearly half full, but it had "turned" on the shelf.  I couldn't use it because it would give a bad taste to the cupcakes.  I was lucky I had a new bottle just behind it so I could finish the batter which was in a half-made state!  I have clothing which becomes "worn looking" after a few years of frequent wear.  Stains, small pulls in the fabric, and even a few loose seams make them look shabby.  They might be okay for working in the yard, but they certainly are not good enough for wearing to work!  There is very little we actually possess in this world not subject to this wear and tear of time.  Yet, we do possess something which cannot ever change - something which is already perfect and will remain perfect.  What?  The Word of God!  Absolutely nothing can improve upon it - absolutely nothing can make it less effective or powerful!

The Law of the Lord is perfect; it gives us new life. His teachings last forever, and they give wisdom to ordinary people. The Lord’s instruction is right; it makes our hearts glad. His commands shine brightly, and they give us light. (Psalm 19:7-8 CEV)

The Word of God is an unchanging certainty.  We can build upon it, but we cannot change it. We can rest upon it, but it will never falter.  We can take from it, but it is never depleted. We can stand upon it, but it will never cause us to stumble.  We can take it in, but it will never fail to satisfy.  It is true - the Word of God is perfect!  The most amazing thing about the Word of God is how it affects ordinary people with extraordinary outcomes.  As it is taken in, trusted fully, and applied to our lives, ordinary people see extraordinary results.  Where else in this world can we be privileged to such a tremendous never-ending flow of goodness, grace, power, and provision?

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience."  One taste of the insight contained in the Word of God and a life is changed forever.  I think this is why we see those who regularly "take in" the Word so dynamic in their walk.  They are renewed day-by-day with "freshness" from the Word - insight once hidden to them, now made clear and life-giving.  William Shakespeare penned the words, "All glory comes from daring to begin."  I wonder just how much insight we might receive if we'd just dare to begin to take in the Word of God on a consistent basis?  I wonder how much we'd be changed from "glory to glory" as we explored the pages of our scriptures?

First, the Word brings us the truths which give us new life.  Once we have stepped into this new life in Christ Jesus, we are free to begin to trust in the teachings he has contained for us in his Word.  As we ingest these teachings, we begin to recognize the power of grace - the changing of things thought unchangeable in our lives.  Past becomes less significant, today reveals a mountain of possibility, and tomorrow takes on the mounting hope of promises yet unrecognized.  Second, the Word of God is reliable - we can count on the truths revealed there - they haven't failed anyone yet, and they won't start now!

There is nothing more revealing than light.  There is nothing more terrifying than darkness. There is but one place we find light - in the presence of God - the place where his Word is spoken into our lives.  The written word becomes living word in those moments of communion with him.  We neglect this place of communion way too often, my friends. When we do, we are cutting ourselves off from the greatest place of provision, peace, and privilege. What a shame to have so much at our access and then never even explore what is contained for us within those pages!

John Maxwell says it best:  "Reflective thinking turns experience into insight."  When we take time to commune with God, getting the Word of God into us, it has a chance to take root within.  When it does, the transition is certain - the renewal is forthcoming!  Just sayin!

Come into fellowship

We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

(I John 1:3)

We have been considering the various invitations in scripture this week.  Today, we examine the invitation into fellowship with a holy and righteous God.  Fellowship is more than an acquaintance with someone.  It is a closeness of relationship that involves companionship - that type of relationship that is comfortable.  For many people, fellowship with a holy God is a scary and overwhelming thing.  There is a fear of entering into fellowship, getting too close to God, because God is good and we are not.

Communion, or fellowship, speaks of a degree of intimacy that is not easily "faked".  It must be genuine - developing over perhaps years - and is not easily broken.  Our communion with God is the same.  There are no short-cuts into fellowship with God.  Later in this same chapter, our writer explains that if we have fellowship with God, we have fellowship with one another - a condition that encourages our growth and development.  He further explains that if we have been affected by the blood of Christ, we are on a pathway of being purified from all sin.

That should give us encouragement that we are able to approach a holy God - it should also give us hope that we can develop this type of intimacy with him.  God knows that we are "visual" people - we often need to see something to fully understand it.  So, in his love for us, he gives us each other - in order that we might learn the principles of fellowship (communion, intimacy).  The next time you look at a close friend, or even a budding acquaintance, rest assured that he/she is placed in your life to teach you some of the principles of true fellowship.

Some have said that companionship (fellowship) is a basic need for humans - without it, we wither up and are not able to meet our full potential.  We are created as social beings.  Love is something we both need and are required to give away.  It is a two-way street.  We crave relationship on one hand, yet fear it on the other.  The neat thing about God's plan is that he always brings someone across our path that will help us learn to love.  We often find ourselves gravitating toward someone who has learned to love well - thereby learning how to love in return.  We are looking for models all around us - we are imitators of what we see, hear, and experience.

This is exactly why God sets us up in the local church - to learn to love as he loves.  It is a place of "learning".  We "learn" to be companionable creatures - often by trial and error.  We "learn" to be truthful and we learn to hold onto a truth that has been shared.  In time, we "learn" to trust deeply.  God has been providing us with the opportunities to develop intimacy in natural relationship so that we understand the aspects of intimacy with him (fellowship).  

The invitation today is to come into fellowship.  The opportunity for fellowship is two-fold: first with God, second with those he puts in our path.  We learn to be comfortable in companionship from our "path dwellers" in order to drive us deeper into companionship with our God.  As we learn to love God, we are also learning to love those individuals along our path.  Love is reciprocal - it must be experienced and passed on.  

The more we desire to love God, the more we will desire to love those he places in our path.  What are your "path-dwellers" showing you about God's love, grace, joy?  What are they exposing in you that brings you to your knees?  What are you exposing in them that brings them to their knees?  Remember...love is experienced in stages - each building upon the other - exponentially.  Fellowship with God grows in the same way - one revealed truth after another.  Come into communion (fellowship) with God and experience what he has for you today.