Colossians 3 1-2 (MSG) So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. [emphasis mine]
Have you accepted Christ as your Savior but found yourself falling back into some of your old patterns? Perhaps you are faithful in going to church every Sunday, but not so faithful when it comes to acting like you even know Jesus the rest of the week. Living the Christian life is not easy, that’s why God has blessed us with “spiritual brothers and sisters” to help us along in our journey. Being in community (or fellowship or hanging out) with other believers is essential to growth as Christians.
I attend a church where we gather on Sunday mornings for a regular church service, then during the week, smaller groups gather in members’ homes. These groups are typically 8 – 10 (sometimes more) adults who meet for a little fellowship and Bible study. Honestly, it’s in the smaller group setting that I’ve been personally challenged to work on the areas of my life that are not of Christ. The relationships I’ve found through these groups are the most genuine friendships I’ve ever had in my life. I can tell these people anything without fear of it being “front page news” the next day. I can be honest and real and even downright raw in front of them. It’s in those real moments that my life has changed, and my faith in Christ has grown.
As I read through Colossians, I couldn’t help but think about the impact the smaller group setting has made on my life and in the lives of countless others. I gave my life to Christ one Sunday morning at a very young age. I didn’t exactly know what that meant at the time and fell away from Christ in my mid-teens. When I came back to Christ as an adult, I knew I couldn’t walk out my faith on my own. Without Christian friends surrounding me and holding me accountable, Satan was able to easily take advantage and sway my focus off Christ and back into the very lifestyle that was dragging me deeper and deeper into a pit of darkness.
This “see-saw” type life between the world and those things of Christ went on for months until finally one day I had enough. I craved Christian community. I believe God planted that needs inside me because He knew I needed to be around a body of believers who had walked down the same road I walked and could relate to my same struggles. I decided to take the step and connect with a small group and the rest is pretty much history. From the very first group night… I got serious about living my new resurrected life.
What about you? Do you have a group of people in your life that will hold you accountable and pray with you?
I challenge you today to find Christian brothers and sisters that you can walk your Christian life with. There is nothing better that “doing this life” with people who love me and challenge me to be all that I can be through Christ.
I thank God daily for the incredible people He has placed in my life. Some have been there specifically to help me become a better person and encourage me to keep going. Others are there to help me see that I am not sitting in a great big boat alone hopelessly rowing.