Dare to Be TrueNäide

THE COMMUNITY THAT KEEPS US FREE

There are a lot of forgiven Christians, but not a lot of free Christians. We’ve learned that the enemy lies to us, that sin lives in us, and that on the real truth—Jesus Himself—sets us free. But what happens after the moment of breakthrough? What happens when the temptation comes back again, the lies come back again, or if you fall back into what you got free from? Getting free is one thing; staying free is another. In my book I talk about five things that keep you free, one of those five is community. We can’t dare to live free alone.

We were made from relationship, for relationship. We serve a communal God, so we were made for community—the right community. The reality is that friends are like the flu. They are contagious and you will catch what they have. If they have righteousness, you will catch that. If they pursue purity, you will catch that. If they gossip and complain, you will catch that. If they are living a life of sin and compromise you are going to catch that. We will become like those we surround ourselves with. We are not made to go through this life alone, but we must be wise about who we go through this life with.

Living in godly community leads to confession and accountability. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Many times we pray and ask God for forgiveness but then go on living without anyone else knowing and most of the time it creates shame or more sin. That’s why we see a lot of forgiven Christians, but not a lot of free Christians. We are told in the bible that confession to other believers is how healing is found. Healing requires revealing. And after the lie or the sin has been spoken and brought into the light, then it’s time to game plan so that the same sin doesn’t continue to keep us stuck.

Friends of faith help us be proactive, not just reactive, when it comes to sin. They are the safe place you cry to and confess to. But they are also the iron that makes you sharper and calls you higher. Faith filled friends should love us enough to speak truth even when it’s uncomfortable and remind us of God’s promises when we forget. They help us create boundaries and guardrails so that we don’t continue to fall into sin.

Do your friends push you to sin or to Jesus?

Is there anything you have been keeping in the dark, a lie you have believed or sin you have committed, that you need to confess to a godly friend or mentor?

Join a small group at your local church to find godly community.