5 Biblical Aspects to Godly "Communing"
Our Bible Study teacher was out today, so as a semi-last minute request he asked if I could teach this morning's lesson. I had two things in mind as a one-time occasion. Something from the The Apocalypse of John or Colossians 3. After thinking it over, the Colossians 3 option seemed the best . . . In essence, here's what we learn from it:
Colossians 3 sets out a splendid explanation as to what living in a Godly, Christ-centered community looks like. No one of us gets all of this right all the time. Thankfully, God is gracious towards us and grants us graciousness to work with one another.
Briefly let me remind you, these 5 things apply both to the church as a group, and to the individual members that make up the group . . . either way, everyone in the chuch should be committed to adjusting their lives to the following commands from Paul.
A Godly Community . . . 1. Focuses on the things in heaven, not things
on earth -
Colossians 3:1-42. Seeks to destroy the evil that exists within -
Colossians 3:5-113. Is marked out by a distinguishing characteristic: LOVE.
(Not, though, a free-wheeling, hippy kind of "everybody love's everybody where they are" kind of love." That kind of love ignores the call of Jesus for believers to repent. Rather, a love consisting of "compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, forgiveness, peaceableness, and thankfulness.") Colossians 3:12-154. Is overflowing with the Word of Christ, that is, His teaching. Colossians 3:16-17
5. Consists of families who live by God's way of "doing things," not the world's way of "doing things."
Colossians 3:18-4:1
Thinking Through 1 Samuel
While reading the Old Testament at times may seem dreary and bleak, there is something revealed throughout it that simply escapes so many readers. Sometimes it happens that within the same chapter or book of the OT one has both the feeling of distinct clarity and floundering confusion. BUT (!!!!) the good news is that, over time, one end of the spectrum becomes more weighty than it’s opposite. In other words, things become more clear as one’s spiritual maturity grows. Where this has proven true recently in my own study is in 1 Samuel, particularly in the 15th chapter.
God’s people Israel had previously begged Samuel for a king. They wanted a “leader” they could see, hear, touch, and experience “hand’s on” (1 Samuel 8). They wanted to be “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). God, of course, only wanted them to follow Him as King, Lord, Master, Creator.
Israel was granted their request, even after a severe warning from Samuel about the dangers of having a king (1 Samuel 8:10-18). Thus, much to Samuel’s dismay God gave Israel Saul for a king. At first, things seemed to be going well. Saul was crushing Israel’s enemies. Then, as happened throughout Israel’s history, she turned from faithfully following God and worshipped the created things and not the Creator.
In 1 Samuel 15:22-23, it all comes to a head. Israel had put its hope in sacrifices and “religion.” At this point, Samuel says, “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in
obeying the voice of the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
This was certainly Samuel’s cry to Israel, but in the whole scheme of things, this too is God’s cry to us. God delights in our faithful acceptance of his Kingship. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and is to be worshiped. This is to be the desire of our hearts, not “religiousity.”
