Sunday’s Comin’

Last night was my small group's meeting night and my wife planned for us to meet at Center Park downtown. I was exhausted from a hard day…actually a hard week and really wasn't longing to hang out. Don't tell the people in my small group, but my introvert nature was crying out for me to just go home and sit. But I couldn't - we have a commitment. So somewhere close to 6:15 pm I headed toward downtown.

Have you ever had a day when you felt like you just couldn't do community, maybe a week…month…or year? When I look at Colossians 3, I notice that Paul is instructing the Colossians on how to live in community through godly relationships. The assumption which he seems to be making is that we are to be in community. So, he lays out these guidelines to help us:

1. Be compassionate
2. Be kind
3. Be a person of humility
4. Be gentle
5. Be a person who forgives
6. Be loving

The truth is that unless you become a hermit who lives in a cave high on a mountain, you will be in community in some way or another. There isn't anything wrong with having some alone time, but we are not to live there. We need each other; God set it up that way.

So, I drug myself to meet my small group, but something happened when I got around them. I became joyful and the weights I was carrying seemed to fall off. There is something about being in a loving God-centered community. Paul encouraged the Colossians to let the words of Christ dwell in them richly (Colossians 3:16). What happened last night is that I was a part of a community where God's word is exalted and dwells richly in the midst.

When we choose not to pursue godly community, we miss out. God delights in believers teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God.

If I had just gone home I would have missed out on a blessing. So, pursue godly community where God and His word are exalted. You will be blessed.

This Sunday we will continue to talk about Grace in Community, focusing on Colossians 3:16, 17.

Will Dungee