Don't Neglect Community!

 


Abraham was a sojourner in a foreign land.  As such, he and his family had no legal rights.  The only people that they could depend on were each other.  Their family became of utmost importance to them.  They were “community”.

            That makes me question Judah’s decision in Genesis 38:1 to leave his brothers and go off alone.  Perhaps he was feeling guilty as he had just convinced his brothers to sell their younger brother, Joseph, into slavery.  Perhaps he could no longer watch his father mourn and weep for the son that was lost.  Perhaps he could no longer look his father in the eye.

            Whatever, the reason, Judah chose to leave his community which provided support, encouragement, and love.  He and his family had been through difficult times together and persevered, but still, he chose to abandon those who loved him most.

            His life didn’t get any easier as a result.  Two of his sons died, and because he betrayed his family responsibility, he became the father of his daughter-in-law’s children. 

            Unfortunately, we sometimes make the same decision to turn away from family.  Maybe not our birth family but our church family.  Covid made that all too tempting and many of us took the bait.  More than two years after the “lockdown” most churches are still struggling to return to prepandemic numbers.  It’s just too easy to sit at home in your pajamas, sipping your coffee while you stream the service.  That is if you bother to attend at all.  I know because even as a lifelong church attendee, I found it difficult to return.  Satan made it just too easy to stay home.

            The Scripture tells us not to give up meeting together. Why is that so important?  Fellowship, encouragement, accountability, and spiritual growth are just a few of the benefits.  The writer of Hebrews encourages us to spur one another on.  We can’t do that without community!  There is also that special feeling that you get when you stand together to worship the Living God.  You can’t get that feeling at home on your couch.

            Without community, your faith will grow stagnant and maybe even non-existent.  Neglecting your faith community is a slippery slope that you want to avoid.  Don’t be like Judah.  Avoid leaving your brothers and sisters.  Turn off the live stream, get dressed, and join them in worship.  Make your spiritual family a priority in your life.

            I’m off the porch to join my Spiritual family in worship!

Hebrews 10: 24, 25

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