I am very blessed in community.
I know several people who feel like they are all alone in their circumstances or situations, and the reality is: often it’s due to your choices.
We don’t always reach out to show our need nor vulnerability when we can, so we essentially build a wall to block out connection when everything within us may be craving it.
Connection begins with a choice to be vulnerable, and let someone in.
Community happens when hearts are knit together through regular connection.
Family occurs when God blesses community with a love which can only come through weathering the storms arm in arm, knowing your family has your back and won’t leave you on your own.
Jesus modeled this well while He walked among us.
He carried an atmosphere of invitation to those who were outcast and lonely in society, and they came.
The disciples are a perfect example of choosing to connect, seeing what someone is capable of beyond their current situation, becoming community through shared living, and becoming family by choice.
God deliberately chooses to connect with each of us. He wants us to live in close community with Him, Abba Jesus Holy Spirit. He wants you to walk knowing you are already in His forever family, even if we aren’t physically there yet.
God didn’t choose those we would automatically assume would be on the inside.
For His community is family by His choice.
●Cain, marked with His divine protection despite his crime.
●Jacob, wrestling with God after stealing his brother’s birthright.
●Saul, more concerned with following his fears than God’s leading.
●David, lacking strong self control over his attraction to women.
●Solomon, who tried everything under the sun to come to the realization that without God, all is futile.
●Paul, murderer of the faithful.
●Moses, the stutterer.
And just so we keep it real, there were also women He chose to include in His community which make us sit up and pay attention:
○Sarai, who laughed off the Promise to come.
○Hagar, who took off when things got tough.
○Pilate’s Roman wife, who had dreams of the Jewish Messiah.
○Elizabeth, barren for so long she must have given up hope of a child, chosen to bear the forerunner to the Messiah. (And her priest husband ●Zachariah, struck dumb when he doubted the angel delivering God’s Good News, in the Holy of Holies!)
○Tamar, who tricked her father-in-law to do the right thing but broke the law to do so.
○The Samaritan woman at the well, with her colourful history, spreading the word about living water.
All of these people are and were part of His story through the family He chose to create.
And we are included.
We have the opportunity to build community and family wherever we are, for we carry God with us.
The Father who is just waiting for us to come near and join the family.
The Son who is just waiting to connect with us and not only show us who we truly are but help us become whole.
The Holy Spirit who draws us into community, helping us to see beyond our natural sight the Kingdom He is shaping about us.
Community is family by choice.
It has always been God’s choice to choose you.
It is your choice to accept the invitation of life long family and beyond which He has always offered, or stand alone on your own two feet.
Only you can make the decision to move into connection, to stay isolated in your current situation.
Community is family by choice.
KARLA LEES 