Community

By Andrew Quisenberry (Leadership Training School Student)

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me. Matthew 26:36-38

Community is necessary. A phrase that has shaped the way I’ve lived for the last 5 years. The realization that we can’t do things on our own, no matter how much we might want to, can be a challenging thing to come to grips with. In scripture we often see where God says we need people. We are told in Genesis that it’s not good for us to be alone. Jesus was all about community. He was constantly eating with his disciples and enjoying their company.

In Matthew 26:36-38 we see Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples praying and asking God if there is any way to save humanity without going through the agony of the cross. Jesus asks Peter, James, and John to come with Him while He prays. Jesus needed community so how arrogant are we to think we can deal with things on our own. Community is necessary and central to the Kingdom of God.

Where are you finding yourself in community? Are you a part of community? Are you showing Jesus to the communities you’re a part of? It’s not just enough for us to be be in community but we need to be an active part in it using the gifts and talents God has given us to bless others.

Prayer: God we ask that you would bring community to us in this time. Having community has never been as hard as it is now but You know more than anyone that we so desperately need it. We ask that You would show us how we can be a better part of the communities we are involved in and how we can be the hands and feet to those around us. I pray You would bless us and watch over us in this time. We pray all this in Your Name Amen.