Dear Parents and Friends of CCS,
I hope this post finds you well and walking in the forgiveness, grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ!
This week I want to continue to flesh out the concept of the “Shalom Community” that we talk so much about here at CCS, a Community of Peace, Safety, Wholeness, Hope and Joy.
This concept is evident throughout the Bible, and is rooted in many particular Scriptures.
Last week we began a deeper look into the 12th chapter of Romans, where Paul shares the “marks of a true Christian”. This is important to us as we continue to add pieces to the puzzle of how the gospel of the Kingdom informs on the way a healthy community works.
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:9-21 ESV)
This passage provides a beautiful description of how people acting as members of a Shalom Community should live. If you missed last week’s article, I encourage you to check it out, and in order to see the necessity of understanding the context of a passage before interpreting it. Scripture interprets Scripture.
Today I want to comment briefly about verses 10-12. In v. 12, where Paul emphasizes the necessity of finding joy as we hope for a better tomorrow in Christ.
It seems clear that there is a connection between the positive states that Paul writes about in this passage. In other words, Hope (v. 12) is intrinsically connected to Love (vv. 9-10), which are linked to zealous fervency and constancy in Prayer (v. 11-12).
It’s hard to imagine a sustainable scenario where you could exhibit one of these without the others.
It's also striking that of all of the things missing in our world, and often even in our churches, are these three things:
A true hope borne of faith in God’s inestimable love for us, and His good providence that creates meaning and endurance in and for our suffering in this fallen world;
A deep love that is unleashed as we pause in the craziness of our modern lives to behold Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross, in a lavish outpouring of His own love for both His own glory and our greatest good, and;
Confident, fervent, constant prayer that is certain of God’s love and offered up in a spirit of great hope that God is always at work, perhaps never more than in the seasons where we cannot see it.
In order for us to even begin to walk this out in our day to day lives, I think it’s absolutely essential that we find a quiet space alone with God and ask ourselves a few questions (and answer them honestly):
Do I have hope for a better tomorrow? If so, is that hope grounded on my circumstances, which can change, or on the unassailable and unchangeable nature and character of our almighty God?
Have I recently beheld the love of Christ for me by meditating on the cross, until a groundswell of gratitude begins to flow from my soul outward into the people around me?
Do I believe prayer is more than just a good idea when I need something - that it is a necessity if I desire to live out a life that pleases God in the context of a shalom community in my family, workplace or church?
Do I long for Christ’s return? What does my answer say about my relationship with God and my understanding of who He really is?
Make no mistake. Living this sort of life is impossible for us if we think we can ever even come close without the regular filling of the Holy Spirit and the daily immersion in the truth of God’s word.
As a specific example of this, based on this passage we can say that you and I as members of a Shalom Community should:
“Share a mutual hope for a better tomorrow.”
And,
“Eagerly expect and await Christ’s sure return.”
To be honest, this does not come naturally. It is the fruit of knowing and beholding the Jesus of Scripture, the One who knows us better than we know ourselves, yet loves us and accepts us as His own. Our part is that we turn to HIm and submit our lives to His leading.
And it's only possible if we trust God’s word and Spirit to move us toward this reality.
In closing, remember that all of this makes much more sense if we realize that Jesus is worth it, that He is better, and that experiencing and knowing Him firsthand is the ultimate pleasure.
All of this is undergirded by the Gospel, the good news of Jesus, which is operating powerfully in the background, providing a healthy context for God’s work in and through us.
As the late Timothy Keller said,
“You are worse than you think you are, but also far more loved than you feel you are.”
Community Christian School has clearly been called by God to be the sort of community where we “stir one another up to love and good works”. (Heb. 10:24 ESV)
This means the growth of a Shalom Community is of first priority. And by the grace of God and in the power of the Spirit, we will continue to pursue this.
Next week we will continue to examine what Shalom Community looks like in real life.
‘Till then, may God bless you with His awesome truth and love.
For CCS and the Kingdom,
Tom