Inspire

The Power of Community 

I left school on Friday afternoon thinking about the sense of community at St Paul. For those who attended, our Picnic @ Paul’s event was extremely successful. There was a sense of joy felt by all. Laughter, excitement and fellowship flowed throughout, just to name a few.

I then turned to the scripture surrounding community and found some wonderfully affirming words. The below devotion has been adapted from the Grand Canyon University:

Jesus had the power to go about His journey alone, but He chose to live in community with His disciples. This serves as an example to us of the importance of living in community. After all, we were created with the need for companionship.

Being in a community allows us to build friendships. Our friends encourage us and walk alongside us when we are going through trials, and we do the same for them. Most importantly, friends can help us to remain faithful in our walk with Christ, and He is present when we gather in His name. God never designed us to walk alone. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

In the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget the power of community. Yet, throughout Scripture, we are reminded of the strength that comes from gathering together with others, whether in times of joy or in the midst of struggle. 

When we are in community, we have others to lean on. Galatians 6:2 urges us to “carry each other’s burdens,” fulfilling the law of Christ. In times of hardship, the love and prayers of our community can uplift us and help us find the strength to keep going.

Reference: 

https://www.gcu.edu/blog/spiritual-life/weekly-devotional-importance-community

Submitted by Carly Lethborg