January 07, 2018

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: TOGETHER

 I once staffed a summer inner city mission project in Louisville, KY.  We lived just outside of the city in a former monastery. We were told that there was a building on the property that was used as an artist commune.  This idea was so fascinating to me.  The artists would live there for a period of time, and spend their days creating & being surrounded by other creative people.  There were visual artists, writers, and musicians all residing together.  How encouraging would this be?  How motivating would it be to be surrounded by other artists?  Spending your days creating, discussing creative things, observing other creative people as they pursued their gifts/talents.  I can only imagine how this environment would push me as an artist.  You couldn't help but grow!  There is just something about being together with others who share in your passions.


And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10: 24-25

We are designed for relationships.  We are created to be connected.  In the Bible, we see again and again how relationship is at the core of God's story for His creation.  Many will consider "punching" in & out at a church service to be enough.  However, God has called us to more than what "punching" in & out can provide.  If we are to spur & encourage one another one, wouldn't we have to have more of a relationship than an hour or two could yield?  We must develop relationships that will allow for us to speak into one another's lives.  We must create an environment where we can help one another to grow.  We must spend time together.  Relationships need time.  I'm not suggesting a "commune".  I'm just saying that we need to be intentional in making time in our life to develop connections/relationships.  So often we feel our lives are too busy for such things.  Time can be as simple as eating a meal together, going shopping together, or lending a hand helping.  Living life together allows for depth to happen.  In that depth you can begin to encourage & spur each other on in a way that will grow you closer together & in your relationship with the Lord. 

1 comment:

  1. How interesting to have this virtual community, finding subtext in the greater gathering of arts educators. Some have distanced themselves from thoughts they find too confining or too far from their own sense of meaning. Others just float their ideas across all- for we do not know where a particular idea will find the right soil to grow. Thank you for this forum!

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