Seeking God With Others
We're committing to seeking God this week. And I want to say something else here: that we need to seek God not just by ourselves, but with others.
Warm People of God
I've been speaking a lot about my London trip this week, and I remember feeling sad when I arrived back in South Africa because instantly there was loadshedding. There were potholes everywhere. There was crime and corruption on everybody's lips. And yet, let me say this. I felt a warmth here as well, a warmth in the people and a genuine faith in most people in our country. And when I came back to my church, I felt such joy because there I was with people who loved and served God.
A Flock of Sheep
And this reminded me that even though faith at its core is an individual matter between you and God, our faith is expressed and grown not in isolation, but in fellowship. Picture a flock of sheep feeding together in a field. Isn't that what we do at church? We're a flock being fed on God's Word and praising God through our music and connecting with God through our prayers.
Church Helps!
For me church is an important place where I don't feel condemned, but where I'm encouraged and motivated week after week to be strong in my faith. And my heart's desire is for my church to be a church where people long to come because they feel welcome and they feel inspired in their faith and they feel loved by the people around them and their journey with God deepens because of moments with God in this family.
Seek God not just alone, not just in the quiet place and in your daily life doing your work or whatever, but seek him together with others. Go to your church on a Sunday and sing with a family in faith. What a moment to be able to sing with other Christians of the beliefs you share! Go to church on a Sunday and pray. Let the words of the prayer leaders wash over you. Go to a Bible study and study the word with others. Phone and message people in your church community and form relationships and do life alongside them. Find a way to use your gifts and talents in the community and serve God with those people.
Yes, seek God privately friends, but seek him corporately as well. And I believe that your faith will grow and that you will be stronger for it. Seeking God by yourself is a wonderful thing, but really the fullness of relationship with God is best when it's shared. Share it with a community and find life there.
