Gratitude for Community
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads
to peace and to mutual edification.”
Romans 14:19 (NIV)
I finished two Bible studies yesterday, one in Romans and one in Revelation. I taught the meet-in-person Romans study at our church and was a Livestream participant in Nashville resident Paige Brown’s Revelation 1-5 study. Both studies brought me great joy as a teacher and a learner. And both studies reminded me of the importance of community, that reciprocal rootedness and longing to connect that each of us has within.
The Romans study produced joy because my students listened well and finished faithfully. We all rejoiced in community and the opportunity to study together in person despite the Covid pandemic. There were practical limitations of course. Physically we were limited to 15 participants and had to wear masks and practice social distancing. We had no hugs, no food, and no coffee. The room where we met was super sterile with just limited tables, chairs, and a whiteboard, none of which we were allowed to move. We had none of the “fluff” that usually accompany women’s Bible studies. But we had all of the essentials that really matter: We had each other; we had God’s Word and Spirit; and by God’s grace and our Church leadership’s extraordinary efforts, we had a nursery. The nursery turned out to be the deal maker/breaker. And the young moms in my study were thrilled and faithful in both preparation and attendance. This fall’s study is the only one that I’ve ever taught in almost 40 years of teaching, where no one quit. Every woman who began the study finished it.
We had nine wonderful weeks together studying Romans 8-16 and we didn’t take one of those weeks for granted. Yesterday we concluded a year-long study of the entire book of Romans in which we asked and answered the all-important question: How can sinful man have a right relationship with a holy God? Paul unequivocally answers that question with his words in Romans 1:17: “the just shall live by faith.”
Whenever we study a book of the Bible, we use our last teaching session to pack up from our trip and time there. We packed up Romans yesterday and each woman shared her Top Romans 8-16 Takeaways. These are life applications or important truths that help us remember what we’ve learned along the way. The writer of Hebrews tells us that God’s Word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, able to judge the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. (Hebrews 4:12) Author Paige Brown puts it a little differently saying, “God’s Word is always a kick and a hug!” Indeed, it is.
A lot of our semester’s study focused on Paul’s words found in Romans 12. Paul encourages the Roman Christians to live “in view of God’s mercy.” He then calls them (and us) to an active love and lifestyle by giving them a list of mutuality commands or “one another” exhortations. Each one of the mutuality commands is designed to build the Body of Christ. Paul’s words exhort us to honor one another; serve one another; live in harmony with one another; be devoted to one another; and live at peace with one another. Throughout the New Testament there are over 24 mutuality commands or “house rules” listed for believers. By far, however, Paul’s #1 mutuality command for all Christians to love one another. The questions for each of us is “How can we best love each other and what does an active love actually look like?”
Pastor Ray Ortlund writes that all too often Christians practice a very different list of “one anothers” not found in Scripture. Ortlund’s “one another” opposite-of-love list includes the negative one anothers below:
Humble one another
Embarrass one another
Scrutinize one another
Pressure one another
Corner one another
Confess one another’s sins
Interrupt one another
Disapprove of one another
And author Tim Challies helpfully reminds us of the things Christians don’t get to do. We don’t get to:
Hold a grudge
Withhold forgiveness
Complain
Go it alone
Be a thorn in someone’s side
Have a pet sin
Be unproductive or lazy
Be anxious
Speak evil of each other
When combined, the Apostle Paul’s list of positive mutuality commands and the two negative action lists above, give us a more complete picture of what active or agape love actually looks like. We are called to first love God and then love others as Christ loved us. Once again, the Apostle Paul helps us with his words from Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
So who can you honor, serve, or encourage today? Who needs your forgiveness or presence in their lives? What grudge or pet sin do you need to let go? And in view of God’s mercy, how will you live and love today?
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19 (NIV)
Amen and Amen,
Donna