Community of Believers.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

I took a walk with a friend, and my camera recently.  I wanted to take a picture of this fluffy weed, but my shots did not turn out very well. However, my friend is a photographer and understood how to use my camera far better than I did. After changing the settings, and then standing in a slightly different position than I did, this is the picture that was captured.  The fluffy white puff ball, which blurred and blended into the background when I took my photo, suddenly jumped out against the background of green in this one. Just another weed is transformed into an object of beauty. 

Sometimes getting the right perspective on a situation can be difficult. Everything begins to blend together as we become overwhelmed by circumstances. It takes other people to come alongside us, teach us new tools for focusing, and reposition us to see more clearly. This is one reason we are called to come together as a community in Christ.

^“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.”
Hebrews 10: 24-25 New Living Translation

Many people prefer to meet with God, on their own, in nature.  There is merit in spending time away alone with God, and connecting with His creation, to feel more connected to Him. However, there are great reasons for coming together to worship and fellowship in community. God designed us to work together in unison. He has given us each unique gifts and talents to share with one another.

Recently I’ve been walking through a difficult time. I have been experiencing the kind of struggle that draws me nearer to God, but tempts me to shy away from His people. Thankfully, I have continued to fellowship with other believers who have given me new perspectives on my situation, tools for focusing on the good, and a better picture of how a weed can become transformed into something beautiful.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.