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We all struggle with making excuses at times, don't we? Excuses for avoiding things that are good for us, like exercising. Or excuses for overlooking important responsibilities like calling a loved one on their birthday. Nowhere do the excuses seem to come more easily than when it comes to serving at church. "I don't really have any talents to offer." "They've got it covered without me." "My schedule is just too crazy right now." These thoughts have likely run through all of our minds at one point or another. And while they seem perfectly reasonable in the moment, they don't hold up under scrutiny.
We all struggle with making excuses at times, don't we? Excuses for avoiding things that are good for us, like exercising. Or excuses for overlooking important responsibilities like calling a loved one on their birthday. Nowhere do the excuses seem to come more easily than when it comes to serving at church. "I don't really have any talents to offer." "They've got it covered without me." "My schedule is just too crazy right now." These thoughts have likely run through all of our minds at one point or another. And while they seem perfectly reasonable in the moment, they don't hold up under scrutiny.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by life's challenges and complexities, but the beauty of being part of a community lies in the collective power we possess when we unite our hearts and hands. The mission of reaching people and helping them walk with God is not a solitary endeavor but a shared responsibility that requires the efforts of the entire body of Christ.
In a world obsessed with status and self-promotion, Jesus redefines greatness as servanthood and giving your life away. Everywhere Jesus went, crowds swarmed him - the famous rabbi and miracle worker. People wanted a piece of him, to be seen with him, to bask in his presence. But Jesus saw right through all the celebrity hype. His life was never about being served, but about serving others.
Imagine a big dinner table with lots of chairs and all kinds of delicious food. People laugh and catch up. As conversations break out in the background, the smell of the food makes you want to come and join. This is what true community should look like - a place where everyone is welcome, where there's always room for more, and where all people are celebrated and embraced, no matter their differences. In a world that often separates and divides people, we are called to create spaces where love, understanding, and grace can grow.
Jesus unveiled the mark by which his followers would be known - a radical, sacrificial love for one another. It would not be their knowledge, their morality, or their works that would set them apart. No, they would be identified by their genuine, others-oriented care and compassion. This is the way of Jesus. Love is not merely an emotion or feeling. It is an action - a willingness to give ourselves away for the good of another. When we love, we put the needs of others before our own. We consider their perspective, feel their hurts, and look for ways to tangibly support them, even at great personal cost.
Our shared identity as a community comes with a profound responsibility to care for, uplift, and support one another. Christ-centered community is where God’s love is exchanged, experienced, and expressed. This new type of community demands intentional nurturing and cultivation. Our actions, or inactions, have consequences that extend beyond ourselves, impacting the fabric of our community and even beyond its boundaries.