Flourishing in the Land
What does a community that knows the mercy and grace of the Lord look like? We find a great picture of just this type of community in the book of Hosea:
I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.
They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. (Hosea 14:5-7)
This is really a remarkable picture buried in the midst of the minor profits. Here we see a community that is fresh, stable, and vital, growing and spreading out for all to enjoy. Throughout the ages the church of Christ has been this to the world, through local parish ministry, starting of hospitals, school, orphanages, etc... God's people have provided respite and shade to a weary world, filled the world with beauty through art and music, and been a place of nourishment for engaging daily life.
This weekend we will pause with our first all church retreat to dig a little deeper into this picture of the flourishing church. As a community we want to remember our "first love". We want to remind ourselves of the promises that are "yes and amen" in Christ. We want to reconnect as it were to this Gospel-infused power source as God's mission for us as a local church is renewed and refreshed. So both on the retreat and for those that gather at Breton on Sunday, pray that God would unite our hearts and equip us to be the people he has made us to be.
Photo by jose alfonso sierra on Unsplash