series: Shine Together #
verse: John 4:46-54 #
Main Idea: #
How can we really reflect the light of Jesus Christ in our daily lives? We are all children of God that love and live for Him. But even though we believe in the same God, we often differ in the subtleties of what we actually subscribe to. Being such a large community can only lead to divergences in the ways that we operate and in what we value.
Many of us in this room are believers. But that’s not where the story ends. God wants to use us to grow a community, a larger family of believers.
The idea of togetherness is so utterly important. It’s what God desires for us as believers to relish in. He desires a world where broken and sinful people come together and unify under the belief and love of the same God.
How can we become a community that truly transforms lives? #
God uses one person’s trust to change many #
John 4:47-50 shows how an official is desperate to save his child and would go to any means to save him. So when he hears that Jesus is passing through, he gave his utmost effort in order to see him and get help. And when Jesus said, “Go your son is healed”, the official believed him completely and left with haste to go see his son. Similarly to the official, we need to recognize that we need help. It’s in our humanity to suffer and struggle. And yet we need to recognize that suffering is an act of mercy from God. It helps us recognize where we’re basing our security and trust in life. If it’s on ourselves, then these stressful situations cause us much issue and turmoil. However, when we’re content and basing our trust in our God, those worries are redirected and no longer exist.
God grows many through one shared faith #
In John 4:51-52, we see that it wasn’t just the offical and his family begin to believe. His servants are also impacted.
God is forming on community through many lives #
In the climax, John reveals that it wasn’t just that the son was healed, but rather the entire house-hold believes. Servants, in-laws, maids, people who are living in the same place, are all believers. Shining together doesn’t just mean that we have to be friendly towards one another and listen. But it’s so much more than it. It’s about relying on one another to build each other up and in our faiths.
Application: #
our trust and faithfulness in Jesus Christ can be used within this community at salt & light as well. It’s hard to see the results of our labor immediately, so continue to stay obedient. Show grace to others, be forgiving, serve, etc.