“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24–25 (NLT)
It is so clear in the New Testament that God’s vision for His followers is not isolation but togetherness. From the very beginning, His plan has been to shape His people in community. Our relationships with one another are not just helpful extras. They are part of how God grows us. They are both the input we need for spiritual maturity and the training ground where we truly learn how to love.
Community is where the teachings of Jesus become more than ideas. It is where love, patience, grace, and forgiveness are not just preached but practiced. And that is not always easy. Community is often messy. The early church was full of imperfect people with rough edges, just like us. But it was also full of the presence and power of God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said,
“Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community.”
In other words, if we hold too tightly to our ideals of what people should be like, we will fail to love them as they are. God does not ask us to build perfect community. He invites us to receive one another as He has received us. Each person you meet is precious in His sight. And if they matter that much to God, they should matter to us as well.
So I invite you to take a step toward community. Real community. Not the polished version, but the real-life version with bumps and bruises, missteps and grace. Because this is God’s plan for your nurture, your growth, and your becoming.
You were never meant to walk alone. You were made to grow in the presence of others who are learning to walk with Jesus too.