Dave's Diary

Today we turn our attention to the final “Ancient Path” we’ll be considering in this Series – that of diligently following Jesus in community with others. This is one of those beautiful ways we are invited to walk down to encounter the Lord more deeply.

Daily Reading: Mark 1:16-20

In our individualistic society, we tend to think of our faith as a matter of “Jesus and me”. But notice that from the moment Jesus started to call His disciples to Himself, He called them into community. Neither Simon nor Andrew could claim to be the first, because they were called together. We’re told that Jesus called to them, “Follow Me”. Had He called, “Simon, follow Me” and then “Andrew, follow Me”, Simon would always have had the claim to having been the first. But even from the very start, He called them together. From the very start, they were called into community. And while every subsequent disciple was also certainly called individually, by following Jesus’ call they were joining a community of followers.

Jesus put Himself at the centre of a new life-giving community of disciples. They each knew Him deeply personally. They each loved Him and honoured Him and served His Kingdom aims with their unique, individual gifts and abilities. But at the heart of it all, they did so as a community. They had to learn to love each other, to forgive each other, to care for one another and to multiply their effectiveness by working together for the greater good.

The Ancient Path of following Jesus in community with others is one to which every Christian today is also called. John Wesley once famously said, “There is no holiness but social holiness”, and he was referring to us growing in holiness through Christ-centred relationships with others. He was countering an individualised and privatised idea of Christianity, and making the point that one cannot fully experience the Kingdom of God alone and in isolation. One needs others. There are lessons we cannot learn and virtues we cannot grow in isolation. It is only within Christian community that holiness of life is to be realized.

Lord, draw me deeper into Christian community today. Help me to lay aside my tendency towards individuality and to find a fuller and richer relationship with You through my relationships with others. Amen.