Daily Journal: 21 May

Think About the People

We live our lives around community. Community doesn’t always include the people we naturally choose, much like a family. Our community invariably includes people who will astound us, reassure us, love us, help us, irritate us, provoke us and disappoint us at times. Yet, this is our community. And it's a blessing. In all of these things, as we extend ourselves, we grow.

The bible is full of stories and examples of communities and they include people who don’t always get along, people who lead, people who follow, and people who don't "fit in". We all feel like that sometimes and it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Instead of being restless, it’s important to embrace. Learning to embrace ourselves and our place in our community adjusts our perspectives about being there, as well as about the authentic place of others being there.

Ask God what He wants to fulfil in our lives and let that settle our spirit to live well in our communities.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

We have different communities in our lives. In all of them, we ought to carry the light of Christ and connect with others, encourage others, think about needs around us and how we can be of benefit, and commit our way to the Lord.

Romans 12:16 (NCV)

Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (GNT)

We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.