This is for days 26-28 of 31 Days of Intentional Community.
I love this passage and how it gives us three simple ways (let's count one for each day this post counts for, shall we?) we can love God & love others, and intentionally engage in community:
1. Partner with one another in the gospel
We've talked a lot about this gospel partnership at my church in the last year. Basically, what it looks like is working together with the common goal of making disciples. That means using our gifts to bless the body of Christ, and committing to a particular body of Christ where we can grow in our knowledge of the gospel and spur each other on to face the opposition. It's a powerful partnership!
2. Hold one another in our hearts
This phrase is so beautiful! It reminds me of the e.e. cummings poem, i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart), which I've always loved. As we create friendships and deepen relationships, we are to carry those dearly in our hearts, remembering each other in prayer, and seeking to meet one another's needs in love. It doesn't get much sweeter than this. It's not always an easy calling, but it is clearly part of God's plan for community.
3. Partake of His grace with one another.
How do we do part this exactly? The word partake means: to take or have a part or share along with others; participate in. So not only are we to partner in the gospel together, but with those with whom we find ourselves in community we are to share in God's grace together as well. Maybe that looks like sharing with one another where we see His grace in our life, or also pointing that grace out where others might not see it. Or even extending grace to those who might not deserve it by the world's standards.
We're almost to the end of the month, and one thing I've been reflecting on is how I hold you all, the readers of this, blog dearly in my heart. Every comment or email encourages me that the vision God has given me in writing this series and anything I publish on the blog is valid and true and worthy of my time. I love connecting here with you all and look forward to us virtually partnering in the gospel and partaking of His grace more with you in the future.