Community Devotions

He Came for Me

SCRIPTURE

“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’- and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then other will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16

OBSERVATION

Jesus came to save us…ALL of us! He chose us and knows us by name. Paul speaks in this verse regarding to himself as a the “worst sinner” and he was one of God’s chosen. That means we, who sometimes feel like are the worst sinners, have been covered by God’s grace as well. He showed mercy to Paul and extends that same mercy to us. There are no degrees to sin. We have all sinned and have fallen short, even Paul, one of God’s very own. The Lord chose us and we are not overlooked or disregarded. Our sins have all cost us something and in our human minds, we may put different sins into different categories based on the degree to how bad the sin is….BUT, God doesn’t separate them into categories. All of our sins are covered by grace and mercy. We don’t deserve it but he gives it to us with nothing in return but our heart!

APPLICATION

What an awesome God we serve! We are not just lost in the shuffle or just one of many but He really does know us by name and loves us! Our human minds cannot fathom how He can know us individually, but He does. He is infinite in all His ways! I’m so grateful for His grace over my life. Because of this, I will never be the same and I will tell others about His goodness. He has extended much patience over me and continues to show me just how great and loving He is. In the end, He didn’t come for selected special ones…He came specifically for ME and I chose Him back! Not because we are perfect but because He is GOOD!

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your patience over me and that you chose to come for ME! May my life always reflect your goodness in my life and how merciful you are! Thank you Lord for your forgiveness and for giving us hope beyond ourselves. I am forever grateful that because of you, I will have eternal life and be forever changed! Amen!

Community: You Can't Live Without It

SCRIPTURE

“…and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.” 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3

OBSERVATION

God designed us to be surrounded by “community.” A community can be defined as your church or as small as your Lifegroup. Whatever your “community” looks like, we are designed to be encouraged by others. Like babies need touch for survival, so do we need each other to be loved, encouraged, and prayed for. Being connected with others in church is a lifeline that the Lord uses for us to survive through troubled times. It’s not a question IF we will have troubled times, it’s a matter of WHEN! And when those times come, you want to be fully prepared to have those people in your life that serve as pillars to pray you through the darkest hour or your season of doubt and fear. We all go through seasons so when one is strong, he can uplift the weak. Only the Lord knows the storms that we go through and every thought in our mind. He loves us so much that He surrounds us with just the right person at just the right time. I always think of how many times that I’ve gone through something and the Lord brought just the right person or people into my life at that moment and spoke a word or a prayer that just stuck with me. The Lord uses people to touch us and I’m personally grateful for that because it has saved me so many times from being in a place of solitude.

APPLICATION

I know personally that when I’ve been in my lowest of lows, besides the Lord, my “community” has been there to uplift me and keep me from getting very depressed. Loneliness and seclusion is where the Devil resides and wants us to stay so he can steal our joy and fill our minds with lies. When we surround ourselves with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a strength that comes from above. It allows the Lord to intercede using prayer and people to speak into our life. I know it is God’s design to have people around us that love Jesus with all their heart and want God’s best for us.

PRAYER 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for making us a people that need each other. Thank you for weaving so many amazing, God-fearing, and Jesus-loving brothers and sisters into my life so that when my faith is tested and I hit really tough times, that I am surrounded by those that truly uplift me. You are our provider and our source of strength. You know exactly what and who we need at just the right time. Thank you for your faithfulness to love us through all the seasons of life! I love you Lord and am so grateful to have hope in you! Amen.