I think it's my desire for closer community that leads me to write like this and publish so people might possibly read some of it. I do other things to, like make phone calls "out of the blue" to people I care about. And that is good.
* But, in the process, it's important that I don't forget that it is in those places and among those people where we are known personally and well that God does His best work in us and through us. The Lord commands each believer to love "one another" that that means specific people, not just the "Church" in general.-------------------------
I think sometimes believers are tempted to avoid deep, personal, consistent, long-term, mutually accountable relationships with nearby believers because it is in those close relationships that God works on us as individuals, shaping our character.
Remember: Even Jesus Christ committed himself to one group.
I don't think just "belonging" to one local church is the complete solution, especially since most local churches are more like institutions than like families or communities, but we need to guard against being scattered in our spiritual and personal lives, and not being willing to commit for a time to a body where we are known well enough to be "worked on" and corrected in that group.
Just a few thoughts.
God bless you all.
* indented section added 6 AM Sunday
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