There are Benefits to Being in a Community

“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” Philippians 2:2 NLT

In a timely story regarding Marathon Monday (aka the Boston Marathon), the Wheeling Register reported that a trio of local Ohio runners (Nikkol Zanes, Thomas Karrasch and Cole Wright) will step up to the start line of the world’s most iconic 26.2 mile race today. As someone who’s had the blessing of running the Boston Marathon three times, I will tell you that qualifying for a slot in what runners have deemed “the Super Bowl of running” is never easy. The three runners agreed and went on to say that the dedication and time needed to get to the point they had reached was made easier by the community of like-minded individuals with them each step of the way-literally. “Without these guys helping and the whole group, the community- I mean, we have a pretty big running community group here,” Karrasch said. “I run with Nikkol, she’s part of it. Cole’s a big runner. We see him out there all the time passing. It’s a great community as far as running goes.”

And, you know, the community of running isn’t the only place where surrounding yourself with like-minded people will benefit both the individual and the group as a whole, the community of Christ-followers will also benefit from it. This is the very reason Paul, when exhorting the church at Philipi to take on the attitude of Christ, said, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” In the race to the finish line, Paul wanted them to understand the enormous benefits that came by regularly fellowshipping with one another—fellowshipping that would help them each achieve the goal of becoming more like Jesus each and every day because of the love, edification, encouragement, and accountability the group provided. 

So, as someone who not only runs with fellow believers but makes time to fellowship with them often, I will tell you this… your chances of reaching the finish line in your spiritual race and grabbing hold of the prize are exponentially increased when you surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your love for Jesus Christ. A community of believers has the power to do that. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we were never meant to run this race alone. Help us to understand that we are to encourage, uplift, support, and run alongside our brothers and sisters at every opportunity that we might not neglect meeting together as we are commanded to do and will do it even more so as we discern the imminent return of Jesus. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running