A Christian that is vibrant in their faith will want a deeper and closer relationship with God. Yet, comparing one’s own spiritual life with that of an older, mature Christian can be daunting. How should a Christian seek to enrich and deepen their faith? Ultimately, it is God who does this work in us, so the first step is to trust that God is faithfully working within our lives, sometimes in ways we cannot see. Yet, it is also good to want to draw closer to God. “Continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Paul says to the church, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13, NKJV) Christians do this in two important ways: communion and community.

 

Communion With Christ

Communion is being in a close relationship with someone and sharing one’s innermost thoughts or feelings with them. “I have called you friends,” Jesus said to His disciples, “for all things I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) Below are three ways that Christians commune with Christ.

  • Christians commune with Christ through His Word. The Bible tells the story of God’s relationship with His people throughout the centuries, as well as His will for humanity. Through it, we are shaped to be more like Christ. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
  • Christians also commune with Christ through prayer. In the Psalms, people prayed whether they were joyful (such as Psalm 150) or depressed (such as Psalm 130). Through prayer, we are more receptive to God’s work in us as we confess sin, seek His wisdom, and give Him praise.
  • Finally, we commune with Christ through worship. Worship is a response of awe, thankfulness, and humility that lifts God up in our minds because we have seen His majesty or love. This may lead us to pray, sing songs of praise, or share His love to others that we know.

Community in the Church

The people at church are our “community,” for the whole church depends on and trusts one another. Our communion with Christ ties us together; it is His sacrifice that has made us all into one family. This is why attending a weekly church service is so important: Church connects us to other Christians, and it gives us an opportunity to pray, read Scripture, and worship Christ with them.

The more we are in community with other believers, the more mature we will become. Those in the church will tell us if they see us in sin and will help us out of that sin when we repent. If our faith is weak, a brother or sister can help us continue to trust God’s truth. When we are out doing God’s work in our jobs or when we help others, our church family will be there with us, serving God just as we are.

Communion and community are ways of living that help us stay continually connected to God. The Holy Spirit works through these habits to make us holy. (Galatians 5:22-23) Trust in God as He continues the good work He has started.

 

Written by Alex Stevens