Unity in Community

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  • Unity in Community
    Unity in Community
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One of the greatest joys of a parent is teaching your child to ride a bike. There is trust, encouragement, and accomplishment involved. There is also frustration, yelling, tears, scrapes and bruises – mainly for the parent. Yet in the end the reward, independence and freedom, far outweighs the risk.

I remember teaching one of our foster children to ride a bike. He was older than most kids and was very excited. We put on all kinds of protective gear to make sure and limit the risk of injury. He put on elbow pads, kneepads, and a helmet just to be safe. Come to find out all of this gear was not needed. He was a natural bike rider! Once he took off I could not keep up with him to catch him if he fell. The newfound freedom was so exciting to experience with him. It was a cause for celebration! In fact, he was so excited that he forgot about the potential hazards ahead of him. He saw a family walking and wanted to tell them about this new experience but there was a speed bump in the road. I tried to call out but it was too late. He hit the bump full speed and bounced a few times but kept his balance and yelled to the surprised strangers walking there dog, “Look, I’m riding my bike for the first time!”

Patrick Miller, an Old Testament scholar claims, “ The human predicament begins with desire let loose and uncontrolled.” Desire is not a bad thing until it takes precedence over relationships. This is when desire becomes sin. Uncontrolled desire challenges our established limitations and offers a promise of fuller potential. Sin, at its core value, simply ruins relationship.

First, uncontrolled desire diminishes our relationship with others. God intends that humanity be a team. Within community we find the ability to desire something greater than our own wants. We recognize others and work together for a better present and possible future. Sin corrupts this ability to see the good in community and others.

Second, uncontrolled desire ruins how we relate to ourselves. Nothing is good enough. We cannot earn enough, acquire enough, or change enough to find happiness. We cannot be content no matter what we achieve.

Third, uncontrolled desire impedes our relationship with God. No longer are we satisfied with the limiting ideal of being “created in the image of God,” we desire to become god!

Our uncontrolled desire is not dangerous because it makes us imperfect or less than god, after all we were created through the comingling of the eternal and the temporal, from the breath of the Creator and the dust of the ground. The real danger of uncontrolled desire lies in its rebellion upward – the desire to become God.

Instead, let’s use our met desires as opportunities to testify to others. Let’s share our celebrations, uninhibited with others. Not because we get what others may want but because God created us to be joy-filled, loving, and gracious beings. Be an agent of celebration today. Share what desires God so graciously meets in your life and encourage others to seek godly desires as well.

Jonathan Sullivan is the Pastor at First Baptist Church, 1201 Western Circle Dr., in Dimmitt, Texas. Small groups meet on Sunday morning at 9:30 and Worship is at 8:30am and 10:30. Check us out at fbcdimmitt.com for more events and times. You belong at FBC.