The Difference Between Friends And Community
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:3-5)
What does your community look like right now?
I’m not just talking about your friends. Most of us can say we have friends that we text throughout the week and hang out with in our spare time. But there’s a difference between friends and community.
Your community, as a follower of Jesus, is made up of people who are encouraging you and challenging you in your walk with Jesus. They are holding you accountable to Scripture. They are checking in with you when you’re struggling and praying for you when you’re hurting. They know what’s really going on in your life because you’re vulnerable and honest with them. They’re constantly pointing you toward Jesus and helping you become a better reflection of Him.
So let me ask you again: what does your community look like right now?
Last week at youth group, my husband Kevin preached on the importance of community. He read the story in Mark 2 where a group of men carries their paralyzed friend to Jesus so that he can be healed of his paralysis. There’s a key section of this passage that shows the strength of this man’s community.
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:3-5)
The phrase I want you to pay attention to is this: “When Jesus saw their faith…” Not when the man saw the faith of the paralyzed man, but when He saw the faith of his community, He forgave the man’s sins and healed him.
As Kevin finished reading this story in Scripture, he asked a question that has been repeating in my head ever since I heard it. He asked:
If you were paralyzed, would the faith of your friends (your community) get you healed?
That question has been weighing on me a lot the last week, but not for the reasons you might think. I’m very grateful and happy to say that I have no doubt the faith of my community would heal me if I was in the same place that paralyzed man was in Mark 2. But that question feels heavy to me because of two reasons:
I haven’t always been in a place where I had strong, faith-filled community around me.
I know a lot of people, possibly many of you reading this devotion, are desperate for that kind of community, but don’t have it right now.
I want that kind of community for you, friend, because I know how life-changing it can be. I know from experience the difference between having friends and having Christian community, and I want you to experience that more than anything.
So what are some steps you can take if you’re looking for that kind of community? Well, I’m glad you asked.
First, I would STRONGLY encourage you to start praying for community. I have no doubt that’s a prayer the Lord would love to answer. Some of my best friends who are now part of my community, including my best friend of 18 years, came into my life after a lot of prayers I prayed for community and godly friendships. So ask the Lord to give you a community that will encourage you and challenge you in your walk with Him.
Second, you’ve got to put yourself out there. I give the same advice when it comes to dating. You can’t just sit at home waiting for the UPS guy to deliver your future spouse. The same is true for community. You’re probably going to have to take some big steps of faith and get out of your comfort zone to find community. Sign up for a small group at your church. Ask someone to go to coffee or dinner. Start a bible study with people from your school or work.
Or if you already have Christian friends but it still feels like you have a lot of surface-level friendships, be courageous and share something vulnerable with your friends. Open up to them about what you’re walking through and where you need prayer. Vulnerability is contagious, so just this one step can make a huge difference in your friendships.
I know a lot of this sounds scary. And I know it’s so much easier to keep to yourself and just move forward with the way things are. But trust me, the benefits and blessings of having a strong, Christian community far outweigh the scariness and discomfort of putting yourself out there at the beginning.
So chase after that community. I promise your life will never be the same once you do.