Commitment to Community预览

Day 2: Communion With God Comes First

The dictionary definition of communion is “the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.” Communion with God means to have fellowship with God. It is His communication to us and our obedient response to Him. Whether we realize it or not, it is why we were created and fulfills a deep need for all of us.

Communion with God comes only out of our union with Christ, meaning we have surrendered our lives to Jesus and been reconciled to God through Jesus’ death and resurrection. That is the Gospel—the Good News! It is not based on our ability to keep all of the rules, rather it's all about Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Because we are united with Christ, we are able to participate in communion with God. Union establishes the relationship; communion is the mutual communication and experience that happens within it. Whereas our union with God does not increase or decrease, our communion with Him can and does. This is why it is so important for us to follow Jesus’ example who, throughout the New Testament, modeled time alone in communion with God.

Before Jesus began His ministry, He communed with God. Before Jesus appointed His twelve apostles, He communed with God. Before Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He communed with God. Before the Son of God approached critical moments, before He completely exhausted Himself physically and emotionally, before He wrestled with temptation, He communed with God. He showed us how to, in every season and circumstance, have communion with God.

God invites us to not only have salvation in Him but also to have a life-giving relationship with Him as well. We do that through fellowship, or communion, with God first.

Reflection/Prayer

At the heart of communion with God is communication with God. Spend time in prayer today, asking God specifically how you can better serve Him and letting Him know your needs. Thank Him for the blessings in your life and confess any sin or struggles that you are facing currently. End your time with Him in quiet and silence—actively listening for anything His Spirit might be trying to convey to you. Whatever it is, respond today with obedience.