The Importance of a Godly community
Receiving Christ means denying yourself for His life to be lived though you. You no longer live your old life, your desires change, and you gain a whole new mindset. Along with this, there are certain environments, things, and people that God removes from your life for your utmost devotion to go to God.
As your relationship with Christ deepens, your heart of stone turns to a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). This means where you were once hardened to the ways of God, your heart is no longer too stiff to receive His commands. As you receive His love, your will changes to not only desire more of His will, but to obey it. Your speech, conduct, and thinking all conform to look more like your Maker, and suddenly you realize that there is nothing in you that wants to entertain the things of this world.
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:14
Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
Amos 3:3
Our Savior loves relationship and community. God Himself is Three in One: the Father loves the Son and moves through the Person of the Holy Spirit who always testifies of Jesus! The Trinity shows us that relationship was there at the beginning of the foundations of the World.
With this knowledge, let’s take an inventory of your circle. You can use this checklist below to also check yourself! Are you doing these things as well for your community? Are you being the friend that sticks closer than a brother, or are you the one that comes to destroy? (read Proverbs 18:24 NLT)
- Your Godly community should be fleeing the evil desires of youth, and chasing the things of God. “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22
- Your Godly community should be willing to be hospitable. “Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother.” Galatians 1:18-19 NLT; “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9
- Your Godly community should have good character. Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
- Your Godly community wants to meet with you, they will long to be with you!” “Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again. We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 NLT
- Your Godly community should strengthen, plead, encourage, and urge you to live a life pleasing to God. “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 NLT
- “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 NLT
- “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
- Your Godly community should be praying for you and interceding for you. “Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.” 1 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NLT
- Your Godly community should warn you, rebuke you in love, and be sincere, yet patient with you. “Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NLT
- An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. Proverbs 27:5-6 NLT
My prayer is that you would allow the Lord to separate the chaff from the wheat. That you would allow Christ to replace friends and relationships that hinder you in your walk with Christ. May you love all deeply, and live peaceably with all men.
If you’re praying for a godly community,
here are some online and in person options you can join!
Online: Prayer Warriors: We are transformed by Christ, and led by Him to go and transform others. This is a global community of believers seeking God, standing strong on His Word, and in Prayer
In Person and Online: Hello U: Community of women ages 21-35 who seek Jesus, help you find your identity in Christ, and provide sisterhood
Online: Upher room: A community of women committed to seeing women rise and flourish.
In Person and Online: Brunch and Bible (Indianapolis): A brunch experience, where there is prayer, worship, and the Word of God that will transform you!
In Person and Online: Covered by God: A ministry that has a strong desire to see God’s people free from bondage, filled with Holy Spirit, and boldly advancing the kingdom of God in a world who needs Him now more than ever.
joy-full 