Choose This Day

“To lend each other a hand… perhaps that’s the only work that matters in the end.” – Frederick Buechner

The world seems to be at a crossroads of crisis.

Every day brings new challenges and new opportunities. As we navigate the valleys and peaks of our lives, we seek tools to help us, people to support us, ideas that nurture us, and a purpose to fill us. When we look at artful masters, sports heroes, government leaders, or business giants, we see a community surrounding their success, growth, and experience throughout their journey. One of the best ways to ensure success in any endeavor is to invest in a collective of others who can come alongside you and engage the need of the moment or the vision for the future.

For those who know God’s presence intimately, this becomes second nature. Experiencing His peace, resting in His understanding, and feeling the presence of the Almighty are integral parts of the Christian life. But what happens when we try to be the Lone Ranger Christian without a community? Without others surrounding us, growing with us, and encouraging us toward love and good deeds, we can struggle in this world. 

One of the biggest threats to impact is isolation. When we focus inward, efforts toward community break down and fade away. In our highly individualistic culture, it can be difficult to overcome the complications of personal values and disconnected ambitions. Dietrich Bonhoeffer mentioned this when he said that “Satan desires to turn me in on myself to the extent that I become enslaved and become a destructive force in community.” When we seek engagement, purpose, belonging, and hope, isolation becomes detrimental to both ourselves and others. 

The Almighty not only gave us the indwelling Spirit, but He also provided partners to help us fulfill His Kingdom on Earth. Community is that special place where the partnerships we form with others can shape what we do in this world. Whether it’s Laurel and Hardy, Batman and Robin, Paul and Barnabas, or Larry, Curly, and Moe, having the right partner prepares us for success in whatever we pursue. On the other hand, the wrong partnership can be just as harmful as isolation. This reflects the wisdom of Proverbs 4:13, “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” 

Godly empowerment begins and ends in the partnership that exists in community. God, in His triune essence, experiences community and knows His creations need this amazing gift in order to thrive. He places us in community to sharpen us, build us up, and hold us accountable. The archetype of what He intended us to live in is community, not isolation. Christ knew that we would need help in ways we could never provide on our own. His promise of the Spirit to the disciples is precisely the reality of how well He understands what we genuinely need, whatever we may ask for.

We all need accountability, we all need support, we all need someone to come alongside us and help us see what we cannot, understand what we don’t know, and think about the bigger picture. The community of the Faithful is precisely that: faithful believers living together reflecting God’s faithfulness among each other. As Joshua put before Israel, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” The same reality sits before us: how you will live your life, and whom you will serve. The Almighty has given us the charge to be the helping hand that Buechner spoke of and to take the hand of community to be at our best.

Whether you are trying to lead or being discipled, we are all growing toward being the utmost that we can be. In a hyper-individualized world, living a self-centric experience is more common but less fulfilling. We learn this lesson from the story of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. When his life was centered on himself, it was marked by scarcity, pain, and frustration; but when it was lived for the benefit of others, it was filled with joy, community, and a sense of purpose.

The opportunity to choose this day how you will live is both a calling and a challenge. Will you live out of your center, or will you live out of the empowerment of the Kingdom? Transformation takes time and depth. Click here if you are looking for the next step. The community of the Faithful is a place of strength, enabling us to engage with each other and the world around us. Choose this day to make a lasting impact in your community by lending a hand to those in need. Choose this day whom you will serve.