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LIFEGroup Reflections

You can’t live with out them.

Have you ever noticed how many “one another” commands there are in the Bible? It shouldn’t be surprising. Right from the beginning God has created us to live in community with one another. Adam wasn’t complete until he was partnered with Eve. Have you ever noticed how hard the “one another” commands are to live out? I guess that shouldn’t be a surprise either. Look how Adam’s family fell apart after that first sin.

So what happens when a group of broken people get together and try to live life as a redeemed community? It’s not always easy. I’m sure I’m not the only whose been hurt and disappointed with the way other Christians have treated me. Sometimes it seems like when it comes to Christians in the church, you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.

Think about the things Jesus asks us to do for each other, “be at peace with each other, bear with one another, be kind and compassionate to one another, love one another, encourage one another, accept one another, serve one another, submit to one another, have fellowship with one another, bear one another’s burdens.” The commands can all be summed up with the command “love another” but look at how many different ways and times Jesus told us to love another.

Jesus knew it wasn’t going to be easy for his followers to stick together. He also knew what would happen if they fell apart. If we can’t learn to live and love together then what hope does the rest of the world have? People will know we are Christians by our love. Participating in a LIFEGroup gives me the opportunity to show the world the truth of the message of Jesus by making his words of love a reality on earth. And through the love I give and the love others give me I am built up to become more like Jesus. I know my LIFEGroup isn’t perfect. But I also know that there is a group of people that are working to change the world with the love of Jesus and thanks to my LIFEGroup I’m a part of that.

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