Community

Community by Bret Lamsma

"The mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established . . . and all nations will stream to it." Isaiah 2:2

Some of us must admit that the community we knew as children was quite inward-focused. Everyone looked the same and had similar backgrounds and beliefs. But the experiences of life have widened and deepened our sense of community in many ways.

College increased our sense of community.
A move to a different city increased it yet again.
Technology, globalization, transportation, and different opportunities continue to increase it today.

While we continues to hold on to the good things and loving people from our childhood, we are thankful to have friends across the world from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.

God envisioned a much larger community than his people in Israel ever imagined. In Isaiah, he says that people from all nations will stream in. All of those people will come rushing to the Lord not because of how great they are, but because of how great God is.

As our idea of community broadens and grows, God will bring people to us from all areas of life. They will have different backgrounds and experiences, but they will be drawn to us because of who God is in our lives.

God loves people!

God loves you, and he loves everyone who gathers around you. He loves your community and he wants it to grow to include all types of people. The community that God desires for his people is not a stagnant one but a growing one.

Father, grow our community and cause us to be accepting of all the people you bring into our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.