Don’t Miss It!

by Pastor Eric

This past week I had the opportunity to share a little bit about my military experience with some of the students of one of our local schools. It was Veterans Day, and I was asked to spend time with a class of 6th graders. There was a lot of good conversation and even better questions. You can never underestimate the quick-thinking minds of youngsters in the 6th grade! 

One of the girls in the class asked me a question that I hear frequently, “Do you miss the military?” I answered, “Although there is much I do not miss, there are some things I do.” Quickly her hand went up again, almost like she had her second question ready to go, “What do you miss the most?” I paused for a second, trying to think of a good word to express my answer. Then I answered, “The community. I miss the community I had while I was in the military.”  

I do miss the family I had in the military, it was everything! My brothers and sisters trained with me, lived with me, shared their families with me, fought alongside me, and even gave their lives for me. We were a tight-knit family and it was crucial to the function and success of our unit. We encouraged each other in everything we did. We shared in each other’s troubles and pains. We grieved together. We were always there to lift each other up, “no man left behind.” Although we all had different skills and expertise, we functioned as one unit, relying on one another’s skillset to accomplish our mission and survive together. We trusted each other. We spent time together, on and off duty. We had each other’s backs, willing to sacrifice for one another. We were all individual soldiers but one unit, with one mission, and standing up for what we believed in.     

Community is God’s demonstration of his great love for us as he, too, is in community with the Trinity. The Bible speaks into the importance of community and the family of God–the church:

  • The church family is a place of encouragement and of love (Hebrews 10:24-25)
  • The church family is there to carry each other’s burdens and struggles (Galatians 6:2)
  • My faith family grieves with me in times of pain and rejoices in times of joy (Romans 12:15)
  • My brothers and sisters of the church lift me up when I am down (Ecclesiates 4:9-10)
  • Even though we are individuals within the church, we are still one body, each important to the function of the whole church (1Cor 12:12-14)
  • We share in one vision and one mission as a body–without division among us (1Cor 12:25)
  • Most importantly, we stand together in what we believe in: who Jesus is, what he did for us, and the amazing gift we receive from his sacrifice. We are united in the truth that we are to love God above all other things and we are called to love our neighbor too! (Matthew 22:37-40)

In light of Thanksgiving and thinking of things to be thankful for, today I am thankful for the community I have at Friendship! I love our church and the family I belong to there. I give thanks because our awesome God has created us to be in an intimate relationship with him and with each other. Each of us has a vital role to play in the health of our church family, our community. We are called to use our gifts for the good of the body, to love and encourage one another, to eliminate strife and anything that causes disunity, and to be the salt and light to the world around us. (Matthew 5:13-16)    

Brothers and sisters, be honest with yourself, how are you participating in God’s family, the church? How are you building up and loving your family here at Friendship?  

Our church family needs you and you need them too! You matter to this family and God wants you to be a blessing and receive a blessing through his family! I am truly thankful for the community and family I have here at Friendship, ARE YOU? As the old saying goes, “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone one day.” 

“Do you see what we’ve got?  An unshakable kingdom!  And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God.”  Hebrews 12:27  (MSG)

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