Good morning, Five Minute Families! We hope your week was filled with sweet blessings of fellowship and kindness. We had a wonderful weekend here at Clear View Retreat with a group of volunteers coming to help us continue to get the facility able to be open in the winter time. Believe it or not, winter will be here before we know it. If you want more information about what we do here at Clear View Retreat, please check us out at clearviewretreat.org.

Last week we discussed koinonia – for a group of believers, we use the term biblical community. Here on the Five Minute Family, we have often encouraged you to put away your devices and connect to your loved ones. However, putting down your phone will do little for your family and for your biblical community if you heart isn’t right with the Lord. Looking at someone else on their phone when you have put yours down and assuming they are sinning, selfish, distracted, or any of those descriptors, will do nothing for biblical community.

The first listed need in Wagner’s list of biblical community characteristic is for an individual believer to ‘devote daily to a personal relationship with Jesus.’ John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”

No matter where you go, some folks are having a rough go at it. Working folks are sick of the grind, stay-at-home parents are sick of the isolation and judgment, kids are tired of feeling like they can’t measure up to their parents’ or teachers’ or church leaders’ expectations. Someone listening here is dealing with mental health issues. Someone is being abused. Quite honestly, any relationship is only as healthy as the least healthy person in it.

Turkle says in Reclaiming Conversation that “The case for conversation begins with the necessary conversations of solitude and self-reflection.” Self-reflection is key. Have you thought about how your personal relationship with Christ impacts your family and biblical community? Gal 5:13-15 tells us, “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.”

Our family mantra is: do the right thing. How do you know what the right thing is unless you know the Truth? Hosea 6:3 says, “Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.” And Hosea 6:6 continues, “For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea is encouraging us to know the Lord. Know what is right. Know how to live in biblical community.  Know how to disconnect to reconnect.  We need that personal time with the Lord, so we can have a knowledge of who He is, who we are, and how we can minister to others.

To start as a disciple who cares (someone who cares) we have to make sure we have a personal connection to the truth – God’s Truth, which means we often have to come to realize the things we need to disconnect from and how to connect more with God. Sam Eaton said it this way, “The truth is, the only one inhibiting your ability to have strong, loving relationships is yourself (and your Netflix account).”

So, we encourage each of listening this week to engage in self-reflection. Here are five prompts to get you started.

1. Think, journal, or pray about a time you’ve been hurt and how God has brought you towards forgiveness.
2. What is one goal you have to strengthen your relationship with God?
3. What is one song that has really impacted your faith journey?
4. What is a book that has greatly impacted your faith?
5. When you think about reading the bible, what is the first feeling that comes to mind?

Not all of us will start as Jeremiah where he hungers for God’s word; many of us will need be disciplined to read His word diligently, no matter how we feel that day, to then gain a better appreciation of His truth and encouragement for everyday living. But, God’s word does not return void, and knowing Him and reflecting on your personal relationship with Him will lead to better and better moments in your family and in your biblical community.

May you be blessed this week as you seek His face.

~Originally aired on WECO 95.5 fm/940 am Tues, July 21, 2020~