6.12.24

This week we are seeing how the primary way we pursue God and experience his “consuming-fire” presence is through community. The writer to the Hebrews has been showing us how we no longer have to approach that fiery presence with fear and trembling, using external rituals and ceremony to access the God “over there”. But now, because of Jesus, a new way has been opened to access God through community. And the reason for this is: God is no longer separate from us - over there - at a distance. But he dwells within us. And every person who has experienced the grace of God has that “consuming-fire” presence burning within them.

All this means that our primary experience of God comes from being in intimate, deep community with others who also have his indwelling presence. And it is that collective presence of God residing within each one of us that forms the context for experiencing his holy presence.

But of course, people are annoying. And we cherish our privacy. So where in the world do we get the power to create this kind of community? And he gives us several clues to that in our passage. In verse 7 he tells us to remember the teachings of the gospel that we have heard. In verse 9 he tells us not to get carried away by strange teachings but rather, be strengthened by a reminder that our acceptance is all about God’s grace and not our personal performance.

But the highlight comes in verse 5 where he calls us to keep our lives free from the love of money and to be content. Why? Because God will never leave us or forsake us. Life is filled with disappointments. People abandon us. Friends forsake us. Parents die. And in the midst of all that pain and misery of loss, God is calling us to band together as a new community, to remind each other of the never-ending presence of God, to share the powerful presence of his Spirit, as we love and serve and build one another up.

As we face life’s struggles and hardships, we no longer have to fight alone in our personal faith in a dangerous God over there. But we are a new collective community of people who have been redeemed by the grace of a loving and pursuing God, and we all share in the powerful presence of his Spirit. And as such, we can remind each other and point each other back to the good news of what Jesus has done for us.

And this is what community is for. We all have moments where God seems more distant or confusing. And left to ourselves, we would easily believe the lies of abandonment and the need to rescue ourselves. But community allows those whose faith is in a stronger place to help those whose faith is in a weaker place. Community allows us to always be able to find a sympathetic fellow-traveler who can remind us and point us to the truth.

This is what we all desperately need if we are going to survive in a hostile, shaky world. And God has graciously provided us with this community to experience his presence in ways we could never accomplish on our own.