ADVANCE: A Revival DevotionalSample

Advance In Unity

“As painful as relationships can sometimes be, we are relational beings, created in God’s image to belong, to serve, to worship and to live in community.” - Brian Houston, Hillsong Church (Live, Love, Lead)

Have you ever played the game Scrabble? Do you ever look at a word and think of other words you can make from its letters? With this in mind, let’s look at the word C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y.

A keyword that is contained in community is U-N-I-T-Y. Community cannot be created without unity. This gives the first indication of what the heart of community is. The first expression of community in the bible is Genesis 1:26 (NIV Emphasis Added). “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” This collective language signifies the Trinity: three Persons - Father, Son, and Spirit - unified as One God. God IS community.

We all have an innate desire to belong and be a part of community but often wonder how to make it happen. The reality is that we have to step up first and be the community we wish to see around ourselves. 

Do you want someone to listen to you? Go ask someone how their day is going. 

Do you want encouragement? Step out and give encouragement.

Do you want community? Then BE the community you desire to see.

We are designed to live in community. To feel safe, seen and known. Because we’re created in God’s image, community is part of God’s design for us. But creating community is our responsibility and is achieved by giving loving words and actions to others. 

Jesus says in John 17:23 (TPT), “You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity”. When we see Jesus in one another, our individualistic and often exalted opinion of ourselves will shrink. 

As the body of Christ, we are called to live in unity under the Lordship of Christ. To advance in community means that we bring whatever we can do to help others experience the love of Christ.

Action Questions: 

Who can you reach out to and connect with today who you haven’t spoken to in a while? 

How could you take the time to place value on your relationships this week?

What is one thing you can do to step out and help others experience the love of Jesus? 

Prayer: “Father, thank you that you are the perfect role model of a unified community. Holy Spirit, weave in and through me a passionate love for others. Help me to grab ahold of Your courage and be welcoming to those that need it most. Amen.”