Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

Christ within us is the bond of our unity. “Though we may differ on the outside, we are people indwelt by Christ and therefore we, who differ in externals, become one because of who we are internally.” As it says in I Cor. 10:16-17, We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Communion is a visible demonstration of how we are united in the body and blood of Jesus. We belong to one another and our differences are not a hindrance but a welcome part of the Body.  Paul says we should be of one mind and united in our thinking, living in peace.   That doesn’t mean we have to let go of our ideas, opinions or doctrines. We will never agree on everything but we can and must agree on one thing: Jesus is Lord. So let us make a distinction between essentials and nonessentials and to find ways to love one another when our nonessentials differ. Love and commitment to Jesus is essential, as well as, basic teaching found in the creeds but so many other things are nonessentials. Not that they are unimportant but they should not divide us. John Wesley offered 5 ways to show love to those whom we differ in the nonessentials. 1. Treat them as companions. 2. Do not think or speak evil of them. 3. Pray for them. 4 Encourage them to do good. 5. Collaborate with them in ministry. 
Let us pray for the unity of the church and join hands with those whose hearts beat I love for Him!

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

Why do we think we must always agree on every issue in the church or it is grounds for division?  The truth is we will never get everything right and our doctrines and dogmas are not prefect.  If our hearts beats in love for Jesus, then we can join hands and walk together in fellowship.  As the church of Christ we claim one Lord, one Faith, One baptism, but there are over 30,000 Protestant denominations and many reject every other denomination but their own.  We have adopted a false narrative that says, “If you do not look like us, act like us, worship like us or think like us, we are not obligated to have fellowship with you.”   How this must grieve the Father.  Exclusion somehow makes us feel safe that we have kept the false teachers out but maybe the core of our fear is the desire to control.  “We overcome those fears by becoming people who know they are forgiven and being formed by God’s love.”  We don’t have to agree on every issue. The true narrative may be like this: If you do not look, act, worship or believe as I do, but you heart beats in love for Jesus, then regardless of our differences, we can and must have fellowship with one another.”  This allows for disagreement but not division. Our central belief is Jesus is Lord!  He unites us!

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

The success of a church is not in its size but in its love and service to the people of the community. The author gives an example of two churches. One was self focused and concerned about their image and what they could do to improve their church. The second church  was other-focused and wanted to know how they could serve others, particularly college students. They were caught up in God’s kingdom and served many meals and gave warm hugs to the students. You can guess which church thrived! Dallas Willard was speaking at a conference and told them what the single most important task of a Christian is, especially those who are in leadership. The answer was surprising. He said it was to pray for the success of their neighboring church!. He said that when we genuinely pray for the success of another church in our proximity, we are breaking the narrative of selfishness and entering into the mind of God, who is also concerned for the success of that church. It helps us connect with something bigger than ourselves; it helps us see the power of the kingdom of God.  In His kingdom we are not competing with anyone but on the same team.

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

We often are shaped by the narratives of this world rather than His kingdom. The world is concerned with self-preservation, personal happiness, and making sure our needs are met. Even churches can be more concerned about their own success and image than focusing on serving and the well-being of others. The good and beautiful community of Jesus finds its life and power in Him, who is our teacher, source and strength. He lived for the good of others and was moved by love. He told his disciples in John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  He truly lived for others and we are to do the same, and to shift our focus away from ourselves onto others.

But we need balance when it comes to serving others and taking care of ourselves. We can better serve others when we are rested and grounded and not exhausted and burned out .  Let us listen to the Spirit so we have balance.

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

All of us have friends or family that we would like to share our story with that they may be drawn into the life of faith. They are watching us all the time, and our actions are communicating for good or for ill. The author gives us simple activities to help us share without embarrassment. The first thing we can do is to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to send people our way who need the Lord and to be watchful of whom they may be. We can reach out to them by asking them to go to lunch or coffee and asking nonthreatening questions. We can be good listeners and it will give us clues as to the condition of their hearts. What is that person struggling with? Where is God working in their life?  Then we can connect their situation with the gospel.  If they are hurting, share the good news of Jesus wanting to be there in their pain etc.  Sometimes we may be asked to tell our story and it is good to let the person know we are not perfect and we also struggle…but nevertheless have put our faith and confidence in God. At a certain point we can invite the person to join us at church, or a social setting, or a service project, or small group Bible Study. Then keep praying for them and trust God. Let us point others to Him!

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and the Beautiful Community

Our lives are a witness to the world that we have something real and they want to know the reason we have hope. Some people are especially gifted at sharing their faith but we all are witnesses, even when we are not conscious of it. We share Him in two ways: with our life and with our mouth. Our lives are the most profound witness to our connection with God. But there are also times people give us permission to explain what we believe and why. We cannot claim to be perfect but our job is to point others to the One who is perfect. We have hope because of His death, resurrection, ascension and return some day. Our future is bright because of His finished work!  As Jesus story becomes our story, our behavior changes too. St. Francis said, “Preach the gospel wherever you go. When necessary use words”.  Romans 12:1-18 tells us just how to preach the gospel without words.

 Dallas Willard said: “The true social activist is the person who lives as an apprentice of Jesus in his or her ordinary relationships.”
There are times when we are called to share the hope within us in words and we need to do it with gentleness and reverence. ( I Peter 3:15-16)  Timing is important too and we need to be patient and alert to the opportunities. Each day we get to make a masterpiece with our lives that witness to the Hope that is within us.

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

How do we keep a balance between spending time with God and caring for others? The author suggests spending 2 hours focused on God and 4 intentional acts for others. ( 2 by 4)  The time spent with God could be intentional as we go to church for an hour but going with a sense that we are meeting God. Or it could be spent in being quiet before Him, or thanking Him as we list our blessings, or reading the Word reflectively, or just listening, or journaling etc. But also let us go on to do unselfish acts of kindness and generosity. Think, what can we do for others starting with little things ( like taking someone’s tray back in the cafeteria) to bigger things like helping someone move?  Be creative! How about letting someone go ahead of us in line? Or simply spending time listening to someone?  The author suggests doing  4 acts of kindness this week, remembering that we are a citizen of another world!  Let us stay balanced between time spent with Him and giving ourselves unselfishly to others!

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

As we follow the Lord we need to avoid making rules and laws and trust the leading of the Spirit.  There can be a tendency to turn our individual, Spirit-led practices into corporate laws. Because we may be led to live in a poor area to help the ones living there, doesn’t mean that no Christian should own a house over $200,000. The kingdom of God is not about rules, but about the goodness, confidence, and laughter we discover when we let the Holy Spirit lead us. We need to come to our own conclusions on such matters, and avoid turning them into laws that all others must obey, or judging those who do not do as you do. William Penn grew up in the upper class and had the best education available. At age 23 he became a Quaker and it was common in his day to wear a sword, which was not to harm anyone but a sign that the wearer belonged to the upper class. Penn struggled with whether he should wear the sword for it was a symbol of war and a symbol of class distinction, two things Quakers are against. When he asked Fox, his mentor, he was told, “Wear it as long as you can.”…meaning that in time he would be led to make the right decision. William gave up the sword but not right away. As we are changed inwardly, so do things in our lives, but not overnight. So let us avoid legalism and listen to what the Spirit tells us, not our neighbor!

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

We are called a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. I Peter 2:9.  Peculiar means different and strange and as Christians we should be different from the world. If we are truly following Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit, we will transcend the laws of our culture.  When persecuted we will bless and love instead of getting even!  When cursed  we will repay with blessings?  Do we live by the higher law of love? Do others want to know Him because they see us a people who have peace, joy, and love?  The God we serve is extraordinarily different than any other god the world has ever heard of. He loves us so much that He became one of us and died for us when it is not deserved. He is generous, good, loving, and peculiar…His ways are not our ways or His thoughts our thoughts. ( Is. 55:8)  His desire is to transform us into peculiar people who love others, even if they don’t love us in return. It is all too easy to be like our culture where we treat people as objects for personal gain etc. Let us cut against the grain and become a community of people rooted in another world. Let us have the courage to love and forgive the unlovely and the unforgivable as He does us.