Faith is not an abstract idea. Nor it is a passive acceptance of certain set of beliefs. Faith is not merely a matter of eternity, either. Faith is God in action within us now. Faith is God changing us inside out. And then we are sent to live out our faith in our communities. Because faith needs to be lived and shared. That way it becomes visible.

It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! (Titus 3: 3-8, MSG)

Faith is a way of life for the community. Some people would like to think faith only as a private matter between God and the soul. But, in addition, it is a very public matter within families, neighbors, co-workers, communities. When we embrace God’s grace everything changes, even our relationships will not be the same anymore.

This does not mean that our relationships would suddenly be easy and effortless. But it means that the same Holy Spirit that washes our sins away is at work in us and through us. It means that we are called to celebrate Christ with our lives. It means we are called to extend God’s love and grace to our neighbors. And if we let God’s holy wind blow in our communities they are different than if we’d keep him out. Especially we see this in Christian communities where brothers and sisters deliberately seek to live in unity.

Like Dietrich Bonhoeffer discovered “ that it is only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith. I mean living unreservedly in life’s duties, problems, successes and failures, experiences and perplexities. In so doing, we throw ourselves completely into the arms of God.”

When we dwell in God, we are able to love others like we love ourselves. When we practice forgiveness within our relationships, our relationships have a chance to survive. When we live out our faith in every day life, we meet Christ in each other.

 

Gracious God,
Teach us to live in our communities.
Enable us to love each other.
Help to extend your love and grace
in our everyday relationships.
Keep changing us into your likeness.
Sustain us and strengthen us for your service.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you think faith, family, and forgiveness are inseparable?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you practice faith in your everyday relationships!

Image courtesy of Jessica Echezabal. Linking up today with Thought-Provoking Thursdays &